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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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WHEN 

1 WAS LIVING 



A'r THE GRANGE, 



AND 



OTHER POEMS. 



BY 



DR. WILLIAM F. RUBOTTOM 



FIE ST EDITION. 

BQFFALO GAP, TEXAS: 
W. D. GIRAND, PUBLISHER. 

1897. 




TWO COPSES RECEIVED 



II 



76 2.73^,^ 



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2154 

Entered according to tbe ac': of Congress, in the year 1897, by, 

DR. WILLIAM F. RUBOTTOM. 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



PREFACE. 



Ill 



In casting this little book of poems upon the 
ocean of literature, its author is not insensible 
to the fact that it is not above criticism. In fact, 
he is fully aware that, like all human efifort, it 
falls far short of perfection. However, he flatters 
himself that its contents are not wholly destitute 
of merit and. feeling thus assured, he presents it 
to you, dear reader, trusting that a perusal of its 
pages wiJl afford j^ou a pleasure equal that enjoyed 
by himself while preparing the matter therein. 

This modest request I make of the reader : 
Should you begin the reading of this book, con- 
tinue the perusal until you scan its every page. 
By doing so, I am vain enough to believe that 
you will find something between its lids to enter- 
tain , instruct or amuse you . 

THE AUTHOR. 
Buffalo Gap, Texas, Oct. 9, 1897. 



IV 



ERRATA. 



Page 5, 1st stanza, 2nd line, for ' 'scene,' ' read, screen. 
Page 8, 1st stanza, 7th line, for ' 'put," read, j^uts. 
" '< •' " 8th line, for "puts," read. put. 
Page 9. 3d stanza, 4th line, for ' 'helpless," read, hapless. 
Page 14, 2nd stanza, 5th line, for '■'■kinking.'''' read, thinkinAj. 
Page 16,3d stanza, 2nd line, for ' 'couplets." ve-Adi. couples. 
Page 18, 1st stanza, 1st line, for ' 'amas, ' ' read, mamas. 

'• '' '' 2nd line, for ' 'mplace," read, 7:>?ace. 
Page 19, 3d stanza, 1st line, for • "She," read. The. 
Page 21, 3d stanza, 4th line, for' 'wreath, ' ' read, wreaths. 
Page 27, 3d stanza, 1st line, for ' 'doctor, ' ' re ad. Doctor. 
Page 42, oth stanza, 2nd line, for ' 'with, ' ' read. With. 
Page 55, 2nd stanza, 1st line, for ' 'eer, ' ' read, e'er. 
Page 73, 6th stanza, 3d line, for ' 'a ten, ' ' read, ten. 
Page 76, 7th stanza, 3d line, for ' 'When, ' ' read, Then. 
Page 92, 2nd stanza, 1st line, for ' 'Doravens, ' ' read, Do 
ravens. 

Page 143. 13th stanza, 2nd line, for ' 'neer, ' ' read weVr. 
Page 147, dedication, 1st line, for *'respec ully,'' read, 
respectf^ilhj . 

Page 158, 4th stanza, 3d line, for ' *Coh sion, ' ' read. Co- 
hesion . 



CONTENTS 



V 



PAGE. 

Likeness Of The Author Frontispiece. 

Author's Preface Ill 

When I Was Living at The Grange 1 

Who Is My Neighbor? 37 

Too Dearly Earned 44 

Long Ago 45 

Beneath My Bonnet 51 

Gliding Away 53 

Words and Deeds 55 

Two Fakes Exposed 56 

What Is Man? 58 

Professor Mean joe 60 

Cisco ' s Calamity 63 

The Level and The Square 66 

Beneath The Oaks 68 

Light ' s Natal Day 71 

Exchanges 74 

' ' Twixt You and I " 77 

To-day and To-morrow 80 

Opossom Flats 84 

I ' m Pining to Know 87 

• 'The Mote that's In Thy Brother's Eye' ' 93 

I'll Ne'er Forget 94 



VI 



CONTENTS. 

He Found The Way 95 

Threescore Years and Ten 97 

God's Chosen Plan 99 

The School Beneath The Hill 105 

Eulogy and Flattery 110 

Hard Times 112 

The Model Student 115 

If, May, and But <... 117 

Acrostic '. 119 

Thanks For a Bouquet 120 

Samanthy Sauerkraut 121 

The Goblin Crew of Siskiyou 123 

Some Kind Wishes Reciprocated 127 

' 'If I Were You"., 131 

What They Think or Say 135 

Buena Vista ... - 137 

Alphabet of Maxims 143 

Why and Because 144 

The Printer ' s Appeal 145 

The Woman Gave and I Did Eat 147 

The Busy Sunbeams 150 

You're Welcome Here To-day 153 

Youth, Manhood and Age 154 

When We Go Home To-morrow 156 

My Bonny Ship 158 

Texas Mud 159 

Trust In God and Hew Away 161 

A Gossiping Retrospect 164 



RUBOTTOM'S POEMS 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 



THE wanderer's RETURN. 

My roving feet one evening strayed 

Along the margin of a stream, 
Upon whose bosom was portrayed 
The reflex of a by -gone dream. 
There fancy pictured Smoky Range 
And Sleepy Hollow, down below, 
And diitgle, wood and everglade, 
Where oft in boyhood I had played 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

I loiter near the river ' s edge 

To watch the eddies come and go 
Until they leap adown the ledge 

And mingle with the surf below. 
Awhile I note them swirl and range ; 
Then, laying hat and trousers low, 
I plunge into the stream, and drink 
Just like the youngsters used to drink 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 



Then rising up, my trousers donned. 

And hasting past the watherf all , 
The ancient mill and swirling pond, 

I reach a clump of poplars tall 
And, peeping 'mong the giants strange, 
I see fair shadows come and go 
Across the mountain old and gray, 
Like visions came and sped away 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

The old f arm4iouse is standing still , 

The chapel nestles in the dell, 
The wheel's revolving at the mill. 

The bucket's weeping o'er the well. 
Some horses graze upon the range, 
Some colts are racing to and fro 
And swallows round the stable fly 
Just like the swallows used to fly 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 

Old ' 'Brindle's' ' at the stack of oats, 

The calves have jumped into the lawn , 
Some lambs are calling to the goats 

And ' 'Hector's' ' waking up the fawn ; 
The eagles scream on Smoky Range, 
The roosters flap their wings and crow 
And donkeys drop their ears and bray 
Just like they did, at peep of day, 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WHS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 



A little grove of firs and pines , 

A trellis, clad with flow 'ring beans, 
Some spicy shrubs and twining vines 

And hollyhocks and rose -girt screens; 
A garden fence with doubtful range , 
A zigzag house , with rafters low 
And leaning sides and gables crook 'd, 
Look very like our homestead looked 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

Some clothing's drying on a pine, 

Some pans recline against a wall, 
Some beds are sunning on a vine 

And hats and coats bestrew the hall. 
A turkey ' s roasting on the range , 
A pudding's boiling — O, how slow! — 
And table set beneath a tree , 
Just like the custom used to be 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The boys are rounding-vp the stock, 

Some girls are milking, at the pen. 
Old ' 'Shep' ' is circling round the flock. 

Some deer are browsing in a glen ; 
A buzzard's soaring o'er The Range, 
A hawk attacks a cawing crow 
And pigeons do some flying, too. 
Just like their cousins used to do 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WHS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

The bluebirds swing upon the trees , 

The chickens huddle near the coop, 
Meek bovines crop the velvet leas 

And * 'Watch' ' is dozing on the stoop. 
The mocking-birds their nests arrange, 
The quails are squatting in a row, 
And wasps are drinking up the dew, 
Just like the hornets used to do 
When 1 was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 

Some guns are hanging on a rack. 

Some hoes are rearing 'gainst a shed, 
Some pitchforks sticking in the stack 

And harness resting on a sled. 
Some skates hang on the attic range. 
Cute arrows lie beside a bow 
And tiny socks sleep near a shoe , 
Just like their fellows used to do 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago 

Some battlets hang against a house, 

Some washing -tubs are bottom down 
And aprons , kerchiefs , sheet and blouse 

Repose with dirty shirt and gown. 
Ahshoppers with the ly e - troug-hs range. 
Soap -pots and kettles are in row 

And ' 'Bridget's' ' getting in a stew. 
Like washerwomen used to stew 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

THE RECOGNITION. 

A man is poring o ' er a book , 

His helpmete's knitting, near the scene, 
Some children ' ' paddling in a brook 
And others romping on the green ; 
One woman ' s at the kitchen range . 
Another's kneading biscuit dough, 
Both scanning me with eyes eskew, 
Just like two damsels used to do 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

The open book falls to the floor , 

Just as the reader lifts his head 
And, scanning, sees inside his door 
A wanderer who asks for bread. 
One hasty glance the two exchange. 
They question thus, and answer so. 
And then agree to dine and sup 
Like son and father used to sup 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

The knitter ' s eyes are growing dim , 

She drops the stocking, just begun, 
And weeps upon the neck of him 

Whom she delights to call, ' 'My Son ! ' ' 
Mahala quits the glowing range 
And Susie quits the biscuit dough , 
To bid the rambler ' ' Welcome home ! ' ' 
Like rambling boys were welcomed home 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 



The turkey's roasting ' 'to a turn' ' 
The muffiins not a whit too rare, 
The tea is readj^ , in the urn , 

And tempting odors fill the air. 
The hostess does the dishes 'range 
Upon a cloth as white as snow 
And bids us all discuss her fare 
Like we discussed her evening fare 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago 

The guests the repast do approve, 

Mine hostie smiles a gentle smile 
Deft servitors the cloth remove , 

And heap the fragments pile on pile. 
Awhile we talk of Smoky Range, 
Of ' 'Uncle This' ' and ' 'Cousin So ;' ' 
And then our voices join in prayer, 
Just like our voices joined in prayer 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



' • O , God ! attend our cry , to-night ! 
O , do forgive ! ' ' our voices plead . 
' 'Display thy mercy, love and might, 

For else we faint in hours of need. 
Prepare us for each earthly change , 
Dispel each fear, each earthly woe 
And keep us all , for Jesus ' sake ! ' ' 
Just like we prayed , ' ' for Jesus sake , 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 
love's dream fulfilled. 

A youthful couple, hand in hand. 

Are standing near the flowing stream 
And, whilst they loiter on the strand. 

They do recall ' 'Loves early dream. ' ' 
Then shadows creep from Smoky Range 
And, hanging o'er the beach below, 
Conceal the lovers from my view, 
Like Lovers were concealed from view 
When I was living at The Grange. 
Some fifty years ago. 

The shadows pass. The chapel bell 

Peals forth it sweetest, blightest tone 
And merry throngs decend the dell 

To hear the priest proclaim them one. 
Their plighted faith th y do exchange 
And promise that through weal and woe 
They'll love each other to the end, 
Like lovers loved unto the end 
When I w^as living at The Grange, 
Some tifty years ago. 

OLD BIECHEY'S SCHOOL. 

A school -house — minus latch and door — 
With crippled sash and broken panes, 
(Some lean-to desks, a puncheon floor, ) 
Its sides defaced with pokeroot stains, 
Its roof and gables out of range, 
Its walls a -slant, its ceilings low 

And wooden pegs for hat and blouse — 
Looked very like our own school house 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

Old Birchy wraps : "To books ! " he cries. 

His rod ascends and fiercely whirls ; 
Some laddies stare with bulging eyes, 

Some lassies pull their neighbors' curls. 
One boy inspects an insect strange , 
Another treads his benchmate's toe — 
And ' ' Master Birchey ' ' put ' em through 
Like Master Withey ' 'puts us through' ' 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

One little lad , more pert than wise , 

Implants a tack in someone ' s back ; 
Then Birchey lifts his dreamy eyes, — 

His lashes falling whack- a- whack,— 
The laddie makes some gestures strange 
And, crying ' -Ouch ! ' ' at every blow, 
He then bestrides the Dunce's Stool 
Like we bestrided ' ' Dunce ' s Stool ' ' 
When I was living at The Grange 
Some fifty years ago. 

A COURT SCENE. 

The court's convened for justice' sake. 

To bandage -up the fractured laws ; 
The lawyers, too, their stations take 

To tinker -up its many flaws. 
His Honor rules on plea and change 
And, as his rulings swell and grow, 
He piles them up in proper piles, 
Like battercakes w^ere piled in piles 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 9 

It's ten o'clock by standard time, 

And from a prison ' s dismal gloom , 
A culprit steeped in sin and crime, 

Comes into court to hear his doom . 
The suitors quick their pleas arrange, 
The jurors to their places go, 
Attorneys spar and baliffs shout 
Just like they used to spar and shout 
When I was living at The Grange. 
Some fifty years ago. 

The bench and bar the wretch survey, 

The clerk unto the writ refers, 
The plaintiff does the felon fiay , 

Defence "respectfully" demurs. 
His Honor does some rulings change, 
Then sends the jury down below 
An honest verdict there to find, 
Like upright juries used to ' 'find' ' 
When I was living at The orange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

The proxies for the State declare : 

"He's guilty as his father Cain. ' ' 
' ' 'Tis false as hell! ' 'his allies swear, 
' 'The helpless creature is insane. ' ' 
A hundred times their ballots change , 
A hundred times the cocktails flow, 
Then ^'^ry finds— a lurking doubt- 
Like jnrors found ' 'a lurking doubt' ' 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Som.e fifty years ago . 



^10 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

The jury then to court repairs 
Its honest findings to report ; 
An outraged throng descends the stairs, 

Denouncing jury, bar and court. 
The felon offers ' 'Judge' ' some change, 
And bids him share it , thus and so , 
'Twixt bailiffs, bar and jury true 
Like judges shared with juries true 
When 1 was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

CHASING THE FOX. 

Glum night has doffed her mantle gray , 
Fair twilight's kissing blushing morn ; 
The huntsmen mount, their coursers neigh 

And dogs respond to tooting horn . 
Sly Reynard spies the distant Range 
And, scorning man and canine foe, 
He hies him to its tangled brakes, 
Like foxes hied to tangled brakes 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 

The u-hippers-in their stations take. 
The trailers scent th sedgy fen , 
His foxship scurries round the break, 

And doubles on his track again. 
Affrighted buzzards quit The Range, 
Scared owls from Sleepy Hollow go 

And pheasants fly from ' 'Haunted Dell, ' ' 
Like pheasants flew from Haunted Dell 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 11 

The raccoons seek their secret lairs, 

The deer forsake the sylvan shades 
And panthers , bears and startled hares 

In terror bound from bush and glades. 
The groundhogs hear the hubbub strange 
And to their near-by burrows go 

To watch the bounding hunters pass, 
Like groundhogs watched the hunters pass 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

The quarry quits the brambly hill 

And zigzags down a murky swale 
Which intersects a mountain rill, 

And swallows up his winding trail. 
Then , turning from old Smoky Range , 
And skulking like his cousin Loe, 
He hies into a field of maize , 
Like foxes hied to fields of maize 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The hunters reach the stj-eamlet's brink. 

Dismount and quaff its limpid tide 
And, after taking time to think. 
Quick hasten to the other side. 
Beyond the stream the trailers range 
(Sniffing the breezes as they go, ) 
Until they reach the cornfield hedge , 
Like trailers reached the cornfield hedge 
When I was living at The Grange 
Some fifty years ago. 



12 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 



Into the field old ' 'Blizzard' ' hies. 

Across the hedge the whippers bouLd, 
Adown the corn rows Reynard flies, 

And bedlam reigns the field around 
Till his tired legs refuse to range 
And — o'erpowered by grim old ' 'Floe' 
He sinks, alas! to rise no more! . 
Like foxes sank to rise no more 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

IN THE MARKET. 

There's panic in commercial marls 

And bedlam reigns in every street, 
Transactions move by fits and starts 

Till barters knocked quite off its feet . 
Ginseng has lost its grip on 'change, 
Opossum pelts are selling slow 
And purchasers and sellers fail , 
Just like their kinsman used to fail 
When I w^as living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The poultry market boils and stews, 

Shinplaster money reels and slumps, 
Old Shylock's tightening his screws 

And everybody's in the dumps. 
The banks decline to lend their change, 
And borrowers are steeped in woe 
Because they cannot meet their bills 
Like people used to meet their bills 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 



WHEN I WHS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 13 

Commerce is limping on one leg, 

Finance is badly out of tune 
And Coxeyites must starve or beg 

Unless ' 'Old Uncle' ' feeds them soon. 
So all advise some fiscal change 

That ' s sure to make the greenbacks flow 
Till everybody's till runs o"er 
Like everybody ' s till ran o ' er 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The weaver's looms are out of whack, 

The printing-press is mighty ill, 
The farmers debits gall his back, 
Attorneys' fees are almost nil. 
The miner's purse is minus change 
Because, forsooth, his shekels go 
To satisfy old Barkeep's claims. 
Like miners satisfied his claims 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

The merchants grumble at hard times . 

And labor puts its tools away, 
'Most everybody's out of dimes 

And cash grows scarcer every day. 
Old croakers pray that ' ' luck may change , ' ' 
Impute hard times to so, and so, 
And then proceed to liquidate. 
Like croakers used to ' 'liquidate' ' 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



14 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

A CHURCH SESSION. 

Good Parson Diggs, of Diggses' Glen, 

Into the open session glides , 
His quiver filled for stingy men , 

And scalpel for their flinty hides. 
His arrows take a zigzag range 
And , hither, thither, as they go 
The stingy laymen tumble down , 
Like stingy laymen tumbled down 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

His gory scalpel's long and keen 

And punctures to the very bone, 
From which it clips the muscles clean 

And makes delinquent deacons moan . 
A little Junking brings a change: 
The elders to the deacons go 

And bid them circulate their hats, 
Like dLQ2iC0TiB circulated hats 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The parson ' 'lines a Gospel hime, ' ' 

To waiting ears in pew and aisle 
And Deacon Easy, once on time. 

In haste proceeds to pass his tile 
Then everybody feels — for change — 
And quick ten shining coppers go 
To chase the hungry wolf away . 
Like coppers chased the wolves away 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 15 

An elder then suggests ' ' the verse • 

About far Injy ' s coral strands ' ' 
And, filling up the parson's purse, 

Sweet voices sing of ' 'golden sands. ' ' 
And while the parson fobs his change 
His joyful praises freely flow 
To Providence for earthl}^ gifts , 
Like we praised God for earthly gifts 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

THE HARVEST TIME. 

The fields of wheat are looking sear , 

The barley crop has reached its prime , 
The bending rye is in full ear 

And oat fields welcome harvest time. 
Sw^ift reapers come from Smoky Range 
And gleaners hasten t') and fro 
And pile the bundles up— to sweat — 
Just like the bundles used to sweat 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

The mellow fruits the boughs incline, 

Blackberries now are turning brown , 
The purple clusters dim the vine 

And hazlenuts are tumbling down 
Jack frost is camping on The Range , 
The pigeons come, the wild geese go 
And song-birds seek a softer clime 
Just like they did in autumn time 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



16 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

CHRISTMAS CHIMES. 

Fair, smiling Spring, with faded charms. 

Now gloomj'' lies in Frost's embrace, 
Dead Summer sleeps in Autumn's arms 

And Winter's usurped Autumn's place. 
Bonfires are kindled on The Range , 
The clans are gathering below 
And bells are ringing Xmas chimes. 
Just like they rang their Xmas chimes 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fif tj^ years ago . 

The bending sky with music swells. 

The nodding trees break forth in song 
And gongs and timbrels horns and bells 

The merry chorus do prolong. 
The hills take up the medley strange 
And carry it to vales below 
The christmastide to usher in , 
Like christmastide was usherei in 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

A sleighing party's passing by 

(Each cutter filled with couplets three) 
And banter me, as on they fly 

In reckless mood across the lea. 
Away they spin to ' rd Smoky Range , 
O ' er frozen creeks and piled-up snow 
CJntil they reach the everglade , 
Like parties reached the everglade 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 



One moment brief (perhaps 'tis best, ) 
They pass beyond my sight and ken, 
But soon again, with song and jest. 

They issue from an eyeless glen 
And hasten on, oh, strange! how strange! 
Past chapel, school and ' 'Fiddler's Woe' 
Till they arrive at Terpsie ' s Hall . 
Like we arrived at • ' Terpsie ' s Hall ' ' 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

Then , quick assembling in the hall , 

The lads ' -salute' ' the girls ' 'repeat ;' ' 
Sweet viols answer prompter's call 

And ' 'mirth responds to flying feet. * ' 
The couples ' 'circle, swing and change' ' 
And ' 'balance, all, ' ' dance to and fro 
And then, reluming, ' 'gallopade 
Just like we used to gallopade 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

Some little ones , by fancy led 
Or instigated by their mas , 
Have prayed and hasted up to bed 

To watch and wait for Santa Glaus. 
A little while their fancies range , 
A little while their optics glow 

And then , together dream in rhyme 
Like happy children dreamed in rhyme 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 



18 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

The amas hang their socks on pegs 

And mplace their tiny shoes in pairs, 
Then, covering their dimpled legs, 

Soft hasten down the muffled stairs . 
Old Santa Glaus, from o'er The Range, 
Does to the quiet chamber go 

And fills each little sock and shoe . 
Just like he tilled each sock and shoe 
When I was living at The Grange 
Some fifty years ago. 

THE AFTERMATH. 

Again the flowing stream I reach , 

Again 1 wander on its shore . 
To gather trophies from the beach 

And drink and bathe as once before. 
The deep abyss seems dark and strange. 
The whirlpool tells a tale of woe, 
Each billow tolls a solemn dirge. 
Just like our sexton tolled a dirge 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The demon , Change , has been about 

And parted classmates, friends and kin ; 
He's driven old time customs out 
And ushered many new ones in. 
He ' s felled the cedars on The Range 
And laid full many poplars lew 
And slain the timid aspens, too, 
Just like the woodmen used to do 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 19 

The wheel that turned the water mill, 

Erstwhile the pride of my young dream , 
And pines and vines upon the hill 

Are gliding down the swirling stream . 
The school -desks with the eddies range, 
The house and pupils lie below 

And Birchie's sleeping in the pool, 
Just like he used to sleep in school 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

The boys who erstwhile fed the stock 
And men who followed after plows, 
Old Shep who circled round the flock 

And maidens fair who milched the cows ; 
The herds that straggled o'er the range 
And pigs that rambled to and fro 
Have floated past the waterfall . 
Like driftwood passed the waterfall 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

She mild-eyed calves, upon the lawn. 

The little chicks , beside the coop , 
Old Shep , who worried goat and fawn . 

Old Watch , who slept upon the stoop , 
The birds that flew across The Range 
And deer that browsed in dingles low 
Have drifted past the shelving bend, 
Where surf and flotsam used to blend 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 



The old wall-clock, which used to sing 

Such merry notes at dinner time , 
No longer does its pendule swing, 

Nor does it sound its evening chime . 
Its palsied hands refuse to range, 
Its cogs and hammer will not go 
For it, alas! has tumbled down 
Like all our castles tumbled down 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 

The King of TeiTors came this way 
And drafted uncles Tom and Jim , 
Dear cousins Ike and Pete and Ray 

And took kind Auntie Hope with him. 
Wee Willie Jones and Steve Lagrange 
And Johnnie Bates and Young Defoe 
Beneath the swirling waters lie. 
Just like the boulders used to lie 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

Grandfather's sleeping on the hill. 

Grandmother rests beneath the sod 
And Mother, Father, Sam and Phill 
Have gone away to dwell with God. 
Old Reuben Drake has crossed The Range, 
Will Rallston ' s let his anchor go 
And others sleep upon the beach , 
Like oysters slept upon the beach 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 21 

The lights grow dim, the curtains fall, 

Exeunt manse and church and mill, 
Descending beach and waterfall 

And seething pool and vine-clad hill, 
The actors bow and cross The Range, 
The kites and doves together go 

In search of fields and pastures new, 
Just like they sought for pastures new 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

Once more the iiiky curtaiLS lift: 

Again the boards come into view ; 
New actors with the old ones shift. 

Old faces hide behind the new. 
The scene, indeed, seems weird and strange 
As canvas moves and foot-lights glow 
And old time friends pass from my sight, 
Like others passed beyond my sight 
When I was living at The Grange. 
Some fifty years ago. 

Jack frost has quitted hills and dells 
And wintry mists have fled away , 
Fair Flora, in the daisies' cells, 

Is weaving wreath for smiling May. 
Again the cattle seek the range, 
Again the vernal breezes blow 
And birds enliven woods and fields, 
Like they enlivened woods and fields 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 



22 WHEN I WAS LIIVNG AT THE GRANGE. 

The wildgeese, from the far beyond, 

Are coining back to meads and plains 
And pelicans, on beach and pond, 

Contend for spoils with gulls and cranes. 
The buzzards round the pig-styes range, 
Fierce kites are darting to and fro 
And foxes to the hen-roosts climb. 
Just like they did at broodmg time 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

Spring's disappeared, bright Summer's fled: 

The daisies hide within their cells 
And Flora pouts and hangs her head 

Whilst Autumn's painting hills and dells. 
Again the pigeons seek The Range, 
Again the shadows longer grow 
And gleaners quit the fallow fields , 
Like gleaners quit the fallow fields 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The wheat crop's thrashed and stored away. 

The oats and barley ' s in the bin ; 
The husbandmen have stacked the hay 

And hauled the cotton to the gin . 
Anon they put this ' 'truck on 'change, ' ' 
But dealers say, ' 'It will not go 
Because the market's badly off , " 
Just like the market would get ofi 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 23 

The apple pile is getting hot, 

The roup's destroying ducks and hens, 
The garden-truck begins to rot. 
The pigs are dying in the pens 
And sheep are suffering with mange . 
So off to town the grangers go 
To sell them to the * 'swindling Jews. ' ' 
Just like we sold them to the Jpvh 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 

THE LAMBS AND WOLVES. 

Old Smithies' worn out all his files. 

The painter's needing whisks and cans, 
The butchers need new Sundaj^ tiles , 

The milkman's short on chalk and pans. 
The cook has broke the cooking range , 
The gardener's mislaid his hoe 

And all deplore their ' 'wretched luck, ' ' 
Like we deplored our wretched luck 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

So each proceeds to store or shop 

And quick the salesmen do accost, 
Who quick pronounce their wares ' 'tip-top' ' 

And everything is bought at ' 'cost. ' ' 
Then, footing bills and fobbing change. 
In pairs across the street they go — 
To guzzle slings and ginger-stews — 
Just like we ' 'guzzled slings and stews' ' 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 



24 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 



At night upon their beds of straw, 

They reckon all their ' ' bargains ' ' o ' er 
And, pondering each fault and flaw, 
Disuovf^r that they're cheated sore. 
From cans to files and cooking range, 
From painter ' s brush to tiles and hoe 
' 'The rascals cheated, everyone ! ' ' 
Just like they cheated, everyone. 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

THE LIEN ON CLODDIE'S FARM. 

' • The mortgage on the farm is due , 

Its holder will no longer wait ' ' 

From which the banker takes his cue 

And says. ' 'Dear sir, you've come too late 
For, frankly, we are out of change, 
Although I grieve to tell you so. 
As I'm in hast-, I'll say adieu. ' ' 
Like other bankers said adieu 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

Old Hardskin, looking bland, serene. 

And, becking Cloddie to one side, 
Says, "I'll take up Tweezer 's lien 
If you will make a fair divide. ' ' 
The contract ' s signed , the papers change , 
And each their sev ' ral courses go ; 
And Cloduie feels quite overjoyed, 
Just like his sire felt overjoyed 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE 25 

Old Hardskin's conscience now is clear, 

And Cloddie's feeling quite content ; 
The mortgage runs until next j'ear 

At only forty-five per cent. 
Before that date the times must change. 
The price of goobers upward go, 
And Cloddie'U save his pound of flesh. 
Like debtors saved their pounds of flesh 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

But time, alas! is ' 'on the fly, ' 

And Cloddie's sleeping in the vale : 
His orphans round the hearthstone cr}' ; 
His widow's brave, though very pale. 
Old Hardskin's features greatly change 
And, after fumbling to and fro. 
Says he , ' ' I ' 11 give the farm to you . ' ' 
Just like ' -the Shy locks' ' used to do 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

JOE HODDIE AND FRANZ SMILEY. 

Joe Hoddie ' s note , for last year ' s rent , 

Has sprouted, bloomed and gone to seed 
And's running now, at six per cent, 

To satisfy old Twistem's greed 
Hod's change, or nearly all his change. 
Is spent for grog, on Rotton Row 
And, therefore, Twistem has to wait 
Just like old Tweezers had to wait 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

His butcher's bill remains unpaid. 

He owes for coal and breadstuffs, too, 
The pay to Doctor's long: delaved, 
And store accounts are overdue . 
The masons' jobs, like seasons, change; 
Sometimes thej^ come, sometimes they go. 
And Foddies seekina: for a job, 
Like many masons sought a job 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 

His score at Smiley ' s beer saloon 

Has not been cancelled since last fall 
And now (the fifteenth day of June, 1 

That Dutchman's bubbling o'er with gall 
And says : ' 'Dese ting haf gotter shange. 
Untnon if, den mien peer don't g(»ne ; 
Fer oddervise mien vife vill starfed 
Shoost likes mien brudder's vife vas starfed 
Ven I vas lif en mit Der Grange , 
um funfzig year agone. ' ' 

Poor Hoddie ' s throat feels very dry , 
He scarce can drink his toddies up , 
A horrid something's in his eye, 

And writhing serpents haunt his cup. 
Dark spectors do with snakes exchange, 
Stygian imps flit to and fro 
And terrify the wretched sot , 
Just like they terrified the sot 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE 

Poor Hoddie ' s growing worse and worse : 
He gnaws his tongue , he pulls his hair , 
Essaj-'s to strangle patient Nurse 

And shrieks and struggles in despair 
But Doctor says ; ' 'He'll shortly change ; 
The spooks and demons hence must go 
And I will whip the snakes away, ' ' 
Like Leechie whipped the snakes away 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

Poor Hoddie grows no better , fast, 

Sometimes his eye with frenzy rolls ; 
Sometimes he smiles, then looks aghast ; 

Again he wrestles with the ghouls, 

But by and by there comes a change : 

His mutterings more feeble grow ; 

He quivers ; sighs ; then sinks to sleep 
Like Winesops used to sink to sleep 
When 1 was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

Now doctor sits with folded arms 

And anxious face and drooping head , 
Whilst deft Nepenthe plies her charms 

Upon his patient, on the bed. 
Quite soon his nerves and features change : 
His pulse beats soft ; his breathing's slow ; 
And Doctor cries : ' ' Amen ! Amen ! ' ' 
Like Leechie Dovers cried Amen! 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



28 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

Sweet smiles illume the patient's face ; 

Some truant tears steal down his cheeks ; 
Returning Reason takes her place 

And then poor, feeble Hoddie speaks, 
• 'Indeed, '' said he, ' 'there's been a change 
That none but ransomed drunkards know, 
For which I thank my God and you' ' — 
Like reformed tipplers used to do 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The Bible's brought from off the stand. 
The Doctor holds his patient ' s head , 
The smiling wife holds up his hand 
And then repentant Hoddy said : 
' 'As Truth can't lie nor Heaven change. 
And God man's purposes doth know. 
Henceforward I will drink no more ' — 
Like ransomed tipplers drank no more 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

The shopmen, looking ledgers o'er, 

Appoint a certan hour to meet 
With canceled bills, from shop and store, 

And lay them all at Hoddie 's feet. 
Old Twistem brings a bag of change— 
Into Hod's hands the eagles flow — 
And, smiling, then they all withdrew 
Like smiling creditors withdrew 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 29 

For many miles the story sped , 

For many days kind neighbors came 
To watch beside Joe Hoddie ' s bed 
And magnify God's holy name. 
Good wifey, too, now feels a change ; 
Life's currents freely come and go ; 
Her faded cheeks begin to bloom 
Like summer roses used to bloom 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 

Now Hoddie has enough to do , 

And wields his trowel , square and bob 
With hands so deft and strokes so true 

Thai he can always find a job. 
His change — at least his surplus change- 
Is safely kept on Bankers Row 
Or's spent in beautifying home, 
Like people beautified the home 
When 1 was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

A building boom has struck the town ; 
The saws are buzzing, hammers fly ; 
The walls go up, the cellars down ; 

Fair domes and steeples kiss the sky.- 
As wreckers mid the death-traps range 
They stop awhile on Rotten Row 
To tumble Smiley ' s dram shop down , 
Like ' ' doggeries ' ' were tumbled down 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



30 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 



Franz Smiley, while at meat next day, 

Unto his waiting helpmeet said : 
' 'Dot monish vich Joe Hoddish bay 

Vill soon peen sphend fer peer unt pread 
Unt den sometings haf gotter shange , 
Else, not if, to dose pups veil gone 
Unt ef erypody vill us sued , 
Shoost likes mien f adder vonce vos sued 
Ven I vos lifen mit Der Grange. 
Some funfzig year agone. ' ' 

Then straightway spoke his list'ning fraa, 

In words that did the Dutchman sear : 
' ' Eef thou vouldst vield von axe unt saw , 

Unt guzzle not dot vine unt peer, 
Ve ' d alvays haf some pread unt shange 
Unt haf von home vere ve might gone , 
Besides good clodings to put on, 
Shoost likes mien vamily all done 
Yen I vos lifen mit Der Grange , 
Some funfzig years agone. '•' 

THE ROUND-UP, 

Somebody's fenced the grasslands in 
And herds are looking mighty sick ; 
The cowboy's purse is growing thin 

And something's sure to happen quick. 
The herders scour the bush and range 
And straightway to the shambles go , 
To find ' ' range cattle in a stew , ' ' 
Just like range cattle used to step- 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



31 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE 

The buyers hasten to the pens 

And scan the bullocks, in a trice, 
Computing them by fives and tens 

Before they ' 'fix' ' the current priiu^. 
''Beef,'' they announce, ' 'is off on 'change 
And bovines sell exceeding slow 
Unless they're strictly number one, ' ' 
Just like our beeves were number one 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The passing moments swiftly fly, 

The days grow very long and hot 
Before the sireatimi butchers buy 

At one and fifty for the lot. 
The cowboys then their garments change 
And to the gaming tables go 

To ' 'put the festive tiger through, " 
Just like we put the tigers through 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty j^ears ago . 

Soon as the bullocks reach the block 

Their briskets go as first-class roast 
Their shanks are sold as soup -house stock. 

Their suet butters banker's toast. 
The surloins sell to bulls on 'change 
And higher, higher beefsteaks go 
Until they clamber out of reach, 
Just like they clambered out of reach 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago. 



32 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE 

Again the market's ' 'short on steak,'' 
And ' ' feeders rustle in their crop ; ' ' 
But soon there is another ' 'break, ' ' 

For hungry Bruin is on top. 
The bears have captured the exchange 
And down and down quotations go 
Till corn-fed beeves begin to boil, 
Just like the ' 'grassers' ' used to boil 
When I was living at The Grange 
Some fifty years ago. 

The pasture fields are looking dun 

And army worms consume the grass, 
The rivulets no longer run 

And famine threatens Baalam's ass. 
Poor Baalam, too, is out of change ; 
His stock of breadstuff's running low 
And Madam Baalam looks askance, 
Just like his mother looked askance 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago 

Old Baalam views with sinking heart 

The withered grass and dried-up pools 
And says unto his bettter part : 

' 'We'll have to sell the saddle mule. ' ' 
So Assinego's hawked on 'change 

And Jews and Gentiles 'tend the show, 
And Christian people ' 'gather round," 
Like Christian people gatherel round 
When I was living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 33 

The bidders parley, feint and drive: 
Old Jacobs offers ' ' Ninety-one V ' 
Prince Baalak shrieks : ' 'I'll raise him five' ' ' 

And Baalam joyful cries, ' "Tis done. ' ' 
But Assinego's amblings change, 
His stubborn limbs refuse to go 

With Baalak and his heathen crew, 
Just like his father used to do 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

AT THE NEW RECTORY. 

Where timid aspens used to wave 

And poplars threw their arms aloft 
There stands a church, complete from nave 

To chancel, aisles and music -loft. 
Among its pews staid Christians range, 
Along its aisles proud skeptics go, 
The few to laugh while many weep. 
Just like we used to Imujh and vecp 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago 

Sweet singers near the organ stand. 

Their leader nods and blandly smiles 
And anthems float, in measures grand. 

Through chancel, nave and vaulted aisles. 
Then many saintly visions range, 
Then a reverend form bends low 
And supplicates the Father's grace. 
Just like our parson prayt^d for grace 
W^hen I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



34 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

The rector lifts his eyes above 

And in rapt tones proceeds to tell 
The story of Redeeming Love : 

How men, through sin, were doomed to hell : 
How God, in mercy did arrange 
To send His only Son below 
To die, that sinners might be saved. 
Like sinful mortals , all , were saved 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 

The girls admire the rector's face, 

The women compliment his clothes. 
The critics laud his matchless grace 

And connoiseurs extol his nose. 
The gossips' roving optics range, 
A love-struck maid surveys her beau 
And Dudie's dawdling in his pew, 
Just like he dawdled in his pew 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty yenrs ago. 

The children play at hide-and-seek. 
The sexton's sleeping in his pew, 
A mourner hides his sin-stained cheek 
And skeptics keep their eyes askew. 
O ' er Nabob ' s brows the houseflies range , 
The poodle ' s racing to and fro 

And fretful babies screech and yell. 
Just like thev used to screech and yell 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago. 



WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE 35 

Again the rector, rising up. 

Does let his mitred head incline 
Whilst dedicating plate and cup 

And consecrating bread and wine 
The cruse and platter interchange. 
Partakers of the feast bend low 

And priest and laymen sip and dine. 
Just like we used to sip and dine 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago , 

* 
The rector lifts his voice again : 

Soft music floats through nave and dome ; 
Staid elders bow and cry, ' ' Amen ! ' ' 

And saints and sinners hasten home. 
Some hie them over Smoky Range 
And some to Sleepy Hollow go, 

Where they, perchance, may laugh or moan, 
Just like we used to laugh or moon 
When I was living at The Grange. 
Some fifty years ago . 

"AS YE sow, so SHALL YE REAP." 

'Twas ever thus since man was born : 

He's sowed wUdoats, expecting gain. 
He's planted thistles with the corn 

And harvested more tares than grain. 
The good and bad will interchange, 
As cockle does with barley grow 
And thistles mingle with the wheat, 
Like thistles mingled with the wheat 
When I was living at The Grange. 
Some fifty years ago. 



36 WHEN I WAS LIVING AT THE GRANGE. 

And thus it is with us to-day : 

We're gathering from seeds we've sown; 
We're reaping nettles with the hay 

And feeding on the crops we've grown. 
We're all pursuing phantoms strange. 
Ignoring truths that best we know 
And e'en forget that nettles sting, 
Like we forgot that nettles sting. 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Soitie fifty years ago. 

And thus 'twill be in coming 3 ears: 

They ' 11 mix the bitter with the sweet . 
They'll plant in joy and harvest tears 
And feast alike on tares and wheat. 
Still ease with toil will interchange 
And happiness consort with woe 
LTntil the Reaper does appear, 
Just like the reapers did appear 
When I was. living at The Grange , 
Some fifty years ago . 

And thus 'twill be unto the end : 

The dregs will mingle with the wine , 
The bugloss with the nightshades blend 

And briers still the rose entwine. 
But winds of God, from o'er The Range, 
Shall on these mingled bundles blow 
And separate the chaff and wheat, 
Just like we winnowed chaff from wheat 
When I was living at The Grange, 
Some fifty years ago . 



37 
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR. 



T 



HOUGH very oW, 
And ofttimes told. 
This story^s true to-day 
Of men of deeds 
- \nd men of creeds 
Upon the "King's Highway. ' 

The annals say : 

' 'Upon a day, 
Some centuries ago 

Two holy men 

With saintly ken 
Sped down "to Jericho." 

As they proceed 

They glibly read 
The creed of Pharisees 

And utter plaints 

And curses 'gainst 
The Greeks and Sadducees. 

Debating still , 

Like carpers will . 
At last their eyes alight 

Upon this line 

Of law divine : 
^ 'Love God with all thy might. ' 



38 WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR. 

TheLevite, he. 

Good Pharisee, 
Did lift his pious ken 

And cried aloud, 

His body bowed, 
* 'God pity heathen men V 

The priestly elf. 

Wrapped up in self, 
Did from the record read : 

' ' Thy neighbor love . 

His cares remove 
And help him when in need . ' 

Then , whilst they bent 

With due attent 
Their tablets to compare , 

A wail or sigh 

Or stifled cry 
Disturbed the carping pair. 

And looking, then. 

Into a glen 
Their prying eyes espy 

A wounded man 

Of Gentile clan , 
Where he'd been left to die. 

' ' Can naught betide , ' " 

The poor man cried, 
' To sta> my fleeting breath ? 

Oh, orphan's friend. 

Some angel send 
To stanch this tide of death ! ' ' 



WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR. 

His pleading cries, 

Dejected eyes , 
Hirs. tones and dialect 

And manners meek 

Did not bespeak 
Him one of ' God's elect. ' ' 

And then again 

These holy men. 
Both at once, belabor 

Their tablets kind 

And quickly find 
That he's not th-ir * 'neighbor. ' ' 

The blushing skies 

They scrutinize, 
Uplift their hands and pray, 

' 'Jehovah Just, 

In whom we trust, 
Conduct us on our way. " 

Deflecting thence 

And hasting hence. 
Like other Pharisees , 

They nimbly walk 

And glibly talk 
Till lost behind some trees. 

' 'Almighty God! ' ' the Gentile cried. 

' ' St nd balm from Gilead 
To stanch this fountain at my side 

And ease my aching head . ' ' 



WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR. 40 

Ere this piteaas wail had died. 

Upon the desert waste, 
A well-known horseman he espied 

Approaching him in haste. 

He quick drew rein and did alight 

And, bending low, he said ; 
'Oh, brother mine, forget thy plight: 

Arouse ! uplift thy head. 

Repose tiiy hand within my palm, 

Cheer up and look aj'ound ! 
For thee I bring a soothing balm — 

A salve to heal thy wound. 

Rely upon my strong right arm , 

Against my breast recline , 
Within thine ear receive this charm. 

Thy lips receive this wine. 

Thyself with water now canst bathe 

Thy fevered cheeks and lips , 
Whilst I proceed thy limbs to swathe 

iVnd ply some lotioned strips. 

Now get thee up, mine Ishmael ! * 

And be assured by me 
That I, Grod's chosen Israel, t 

Am here to succor thee. 



* W/wm God hath heard, 
i Soldier of God. 



WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR. 41 



Now quick bestride this patient steed 
Be quick ! thy flight begin ! 

Nor tarry thou , nor slack thy speed 
Until we reach yon inn. ' 

The palfry then, with flowing rein 
And motion safe and free. 

Sped onward over hill and plain 
Straight to the hostelry. 



Mine host, already at the gate. 

Thus questione I Israel : 
' ' Why fetchest thou this i-eprobate — 

Offspring of Ismhael?" 

Straightway the soldier-leach replied : 
* ' Whilst riding down this way 

I found the man the road beside 
And fetched him here to stay. 

Perceivest thou this bloated purse ? 

Be it thy honest gain 
If thou 'It engage to coax and. nurse 

My friend to health again . 

Deny him not thy kindly speech , 
Withhold no needed store ; 

And if he needs an expert leech 
I ' 11 pay one hundred more , ' ' 



42 WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR. 



Old Simeon, with features bland, 

Stooped down and plucked his shoe ■ 

Israel offered his right hand — 

And host and guest withdrew . 



Our soldier, mounted, once again 
Sped on, past dune and rill 

And vine-entangled slope and plain, 
Straight to a tree -girt hill. 

And here, again 

He tightened rein , 
In sight of Galilee , 

To hear a youth 

Discuss a truth 
With quibbling Pharisee. 

The Nazarene, 

with face serene. 
His friend did recognize 

And , turning, saw 

The saint b}^ law 
And said: '* Do thou likewise '' 



No other word 

Nor accent heard 
Did to him betoken 

The subject, or 

Occasion for 
The command just spoken . 



WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR. 43 



The youth did scan 

Samaritan 
With kind , approving eyes 

And, speaking to 

The carping Jew, 
This truth did emphasize: 



If anyone my need supplies 
And bids my woes depart, 

Upholds my hand, my bond unties 
And cheers my troubled heart ; 



Supplies me, when my temples ache, 
With soothing touch and balm 

And, when misfortunes overtake. 
Pours shekels in my palm : 



Scourges scorpions from my home 
And proffers Virtue's crown. 

Forewarns me ere I'm overcome. 
Uplifts me when I ' m down : 



If feeble, poor, if rich, if strong- 
Bids me hope and labor- 
Approves if right, reproves if wrong 
He's, indeed, MY NEIGHBOR 



44 

TOO DEARLY EARNED. 



The soldier gets more scars than fame, 
The traveller but little weal , 

Lawgivers earn less praise than blame 
And poets starve unless they steal. 

Our belles display less waist than frills , 
A popinjay more cheek than sense ; 

Physicians thrive on others ills, 

A miser sells his soul for pence. 

Investors earn less gold than dross, 

The miller grinds less grist than toll ; 

Professors have less brains than gloss, 
Some epicures more taste than soul. 

The printer sells more tibs than facts, 
A farmer far more chess than grain ; 

Attorneys make more briefs than wax 
And merchants fob but little gain . 

Distillers brew more ' 'sots' ' than malt. 
And politicians win by stealth ; 

The foot-pad earns more kicks than salt, 
A pessimist more snubs than wealth. 

Ambitious man ! oh, woman fair! 

However late this lesson ' s learned : 
You'll find the crown that you may wear 

Has been, alas! too dearly earned. 



45 



LONG AGO. 



1^ dreamy mooH 
One night I stood 
The moaning sea beside 

Till, from its brim, 
A specter dim 
Came floating to my side. 

"Oh, wight!" I cried 
(Glancing aside), 

"Oh, ghastly thing of woe! 
Impart thy name, 
From whnce y.u came 

And whither dost thou go?" 

The weary man 
The surf did scan 

And heaved a sigh of w^oe, 
Inclined his head 
And faintly said, 

'■'I've come from Long Ago." 

"Oh, hast thou seen 
Those gardens green, 

Where roses ever blow ; 
Surveyed the hills 
And laughing rills 

Of fairy Long Ago? 



46 LONG AGO. 

Are skies still blue 
And friends still true; 

Does man no troubles know? 
Does plenty reign 
O'er hill and plain 

In smiling Long Ago?'* 

Says he, "The dearth 
Consumes the earth, 

Nor do the gardens bloom ; 
And day and night, 
Erstwhile so bright, 

Are mantled now with gloom 

The hills once blue, 
Thy friends once true, 

No love nor beauty know ; 
And scourges reign 
From manse to fane 

In woe-cursed Long Ago." 

Says I: 'Avast! 

Be not po fast ; 
Forego thy driv'ling liesl 

At least one dell — 

Remembered well — 
Is yet a pariidise 



LONG AGO. ^^ 


Within that dell 


My parents dwell 


And know no want nor care; 


Some brothers true 


And sisters, too, 


Still live, mid plenty, there. | 


Come, speak me fair, \ 


And do declare | 


The truth, which thou dost know ; 


Are not my kin 


Still living in 


Fair, peaceful Long Ago?" 


Quoth he, "Ah, well! 


That little dell. 


Which gave thy fancies birth, 


Through flood and fire ■ 


Anri scourges dire. 


Has vanished from the earth . 


Death's gloomy pall 


Now mantles all 


That thou dost claim to know, 


And not one trace 


Of thy proud race 


Survives in Long Ago." 



48 



LONG AGO. 

Again I said: 
"Hasi thou not read 

In annals of renown 

That men of worth 
Still have their birth 

In that primeval town? 

Thou sni\'ling fool! 

I know a school 
Within that classic place, 

Where sages wise 

Project their eyes 
Into each niche and space. 

4 

I've cijusins, too, 

A mighty crew. 
Whom you perhaps have met, 

For they've been there 

Through foul and fair 
And still reside there yet. 

And you, I ween, 
Have sometimes seen — 

At least you ought to know — 
A damsel fair. 
With sunny hair, 

Who lives in Long Ago." 



LONG AGO. ^9 

'•0[ all that clan 

There's maid nor man 
(FIh spoke ap in a dream), 

Who hafe Dot passed, 

At first or last, 
Across this dark, dark stream. 

The school and mill 

Are silent — stili — 
The streams no longHr flow; 

And busy Irfe 

And roaring strife 
Ne'er startle Long Agu. 

For thine own sake 

To-night I'd break 
The spell which binds then fast, 

And has for years 

Drank up thy tears 
And bound thee to the Past." 

"Has man no place 

In earth »)or space,"' 
I questioned him again, 

"Where h« may go 

To soothe his woe 
And ease his racking brain? 



50 LONG AGO. 

'Tis Bad, alas ! 

That I must pass 
My wretched life he low 

Without one thew 

To bind mn tn 
My bonny Long Ago. " 

' Oh, yep, I hear," 

Replied the seer, 
"SoniB poet's roving eye 

Has found a place, 

Somewhere in space. 
That's called 'Sweet Bye-and-Bye.' 

In this fair land, 

I understand. 
There's neither clouds nor snow 

And, from its shore, 

Men never more 
Return to Long Ago 

No gloom pervades 
Its fields and shades. 

No bane pollutes its air; 
And not a breath 
Of dearth or death 

Can ever enter there. 



LONG AGO. 51 

They never sigh 

Nor faint nnr die 
Nor e'en one parting know. 

And soon forget. 

Or ne'er regret, 
The scenes of Long Ago. 

No guilt, no stain, 

No racking pain 
Nor haggard imps of vv<<e 

Will there ivcall 

The tom^) and pall 
Which shroud dead Long Ago.'' 



BENEATH MY BONNET. 



Whilst sitting 'neath a mesquite shadH 

And eating a bananna, 
By chance [ spied a winsome maid 

Upon the broad savanna. 
I looked at her, she glanced at me 
From underneath her bonnet: 
"I'd like to know, kind sir," said she, 
"If you can write a sonnet? 
Write a sonnet ; ha, ha, ha! 
Write a sonnet ; che, he, he! 
If you can write a sonnet; 
Write a sonnet? tra, la, la." 



52 BENEATH MY BONNET. 

'"Sweet Miss," I said, 'what, is your name? ' 

Says she, "'Tis plain Susanna." 
'■PleasH tnll inn, d), froin whniic-) you came?' 

"Beyond this wide savanna." 
"Where is your home-? tnll me, I pray." 

"Ai'e you not sketohiii' on it?" 
''Dear gii'l, alas! i tell thee nay." 
"Then, 'tis beneath my bonnet; 
Neath my bonnet; ha, ha ha; 
Neath my bonnet, can't you sen? 
Neatli my boiinf^t; tra, la, la; 
Neath my bonnet, ch<^, he, he.''' 

She gave her head an upward toss 

And, glancing o'er the prairie, 
Slie sped away the plain across 

As blithesome as a fairy 
And, as she flew the path along. 

She glanced beneath her bi>nnHt 
And warbled f<^rth this elfin song: 
'T live beneath my bonnet; 

Nnath my bonnet; can't you see? 
Neatli my bonnet; ha, ha, ha I 
Neath my bonnet; che, he, he! 
Neath my bonnet, tra, la, la." 



GL[DING AWAY. 53 



' ["^HE birds on the treetops. the flocks on the hills, 

-^ Little children and lambkins at play. 

And cattle ^hat drink at the fountains and rills 
Are gliding: away, sliding away. 

The pets of fair sprirgtinie — buds, leaflets, and all — 

The bloom and perfume of bright May, 
The grainfields of summer and the treasures of fall 

Are gliding away, gliding away. 

The nectar we breathe from the apple trees' blows, 

Delicious scents from new-tedded hav. 
And the fragrance exhaled from clover and rose 

Are gliding away, gliding away. 

The echoes from girlhood . the foibles of boys ; 

Fairy baubles which lead youth astray : 
Stern conflicts of manhood, its sorrows and joys, 

Are gliding away , gliding away . 

The sunlight, which shines for the poet and sage, 

Bringing joy to the young and the gay. 
And shadows which darken the vistas of age 

Are gliding away, gliding away. 

The phantoms of ocean . the mirage of ^arth , 

Myths and shams that allure us to-day, 
Smoke- wreaths from the chimney and gleams off the hearth 

Are gliding away, gliding away. 



54 GLIDING AWAY. 

The thunders which staitle the heavens and seas, 
Vivid lightnings which shiver the oak 

And tempests which wrestle with mountains and leas 
Are fast gliding away like the smoke 

Life's triumphs and failures, defeats and alarms — 
Grim specters that affright us for aye — 

And pr -texts which summon the nations to arms 
Are gliding away, gliding away. 

Our frif»nds of the fireside — sweet cherubs so brown. 

Happy bridegrooms and brides of one day 
And grandame and grandsire in slippers and gown — 

Are gliding away , gliding away. 

The foes that affright us, the sins we should shun. 

Every ill that environs our way , 
Sore trials which shock us and risks which we ^ un 

Are gliding away, gliding away. 

The awe we once felt in the presence of death, 
Saddened thoughts of our body ' s decay 

And dread of those nightmares that covet our breath 
Are gliding away, gliding away. 

Since Jesus has nfted the mantle of gloom. 

Erst enshrouding man's pris^jn of clay, 
The goblins of death and the ghouls of the tomb 

Are gliding away, gliding away. 

Oar bodies, alas! clad in g-irm^nts of wos. 
Ere long will fatten grave-demons grim . 

But our spirits- dim portraits of God— will go 
Gliding away , away unto Him . 



55 



WORDS AND DEEDS. 



The kindly acts that woe suggest;* 
Are things we do too oft neglect. 

But words which sorrow most detests 
Are those which people most affect. 

The poorest gift to want eer given , 
However poor that gift appear*;. 

Is richer in the sight of Heaven 

Than sympathetic words and tears' 

Kindly words, if fitly spoken. 

May haply blunt affliction's darts. 
But, alas! their spell is broken 

When they essay to cure its smarts 

Whene'er a wretch for succor pleads. 

Speak kindly as you feel, or know. 
But be your speech a key to deeds 

That mav remove his want or woe. 




56 TWO FAKES EXPOSED. 



I STOOD at my window one day 
And mused in a dazed, mystified way 
About — ' ' What? ' ' — do you say? 
A brother I'm trying to get at, 

In a land far away, 
Who must be as gray as a rat , 
But yet , notwithstanding all that , 
Is a quiz till to-day . 

Oh, Brother mine '. what a fakish )wm 
De phirae is that outlandish • 'Tom— 

(Which you write at the end 
Of epistles inscribed to a friend) — 

Trubo"' you've stolen from 
A name I am attempting to mend ; 
Leastwise, if lean, I intend 

To cashier * ' Doctor Tom . ' ' 

To speak frankly, and very brief, 
For hours I'd been scanning a leaf 

And a nom de plume queer, 
That closely resembled a fake, 
Which I was then striving to make 

Just a little more clear. 

Not wishing to make a mistake 
In handling this fraudulent fake— 

Or whatever it implied— 
And , wishing to get a fair start, 
'Id taken the nnm all apart 

And had laid it aside . 



TWO FAKES EXPOSED 




57 


The problem grew plainer to me 






When I had discovered a 


D, 




And beneath it, you kxiow, 






Was a modest lower-case 


0, 




And next in position, you see, 






Was its third, which is 


C. 




The ' 'Doc' ' had a meaning for me. 






Although it was minus a 


T, 




So I placed one below 






And followed it up with an 


o, 




And lest an omission might mar, 






I then added an 


R. 




Then, looking for something afar. 






By chance I spied another 


R, 




And, pursuing this cue, 






J shortly discovered a 


u, 




And then , looking downward , you see , 




I detected a 


B, 




Then, carefully seeking, you know 






I picked up a very round 


0, 




And T chuckled in glee 






At sight of a very small 


T, 




And then, what a comfort to me, 






I found another 


T, 




And, whilst I was searching below 






I descried a lower-case 


0, 




Which I added to them 






And finished the name with an 


M. 




Dancarson Nosilvniik. 





5^ TWO FAKES EXPOSED 

D-ivining prophet, cease thy quest! 
O, poet, let *'TomTrubo'' rest! 
R eversing letters in my ''worn" 
C-an never make it else than ' *Tom. ' ' 
A-gain each consonant restore, 
S-o. too, each vowel, as before 
A-nd, when the letters you've reversed . 
N-e'er strive again to make R first; 
N-o, never, never, nevermore. 
W-ith patience hear me to the end ; 
I speak to thee as friend to friend : 
L-et ' 'Doctor Tom" assume his mace; 
K eep ' ' Trubo ' ' in his proper place : 
I-nitials place, as once before, 
N -or change one dot or underscore ; 
Set up the T's where they belong, 
O ■ mitting naught that you've set wrong 
N ow let '-nom''^ BE, forevermore, 
Doctor Tom Trnho. 



WHAT IS MAN. 



W. 



HAT, what is man? 
The key -stone of creation fair, 
God's noblest work. His chiefest care 

Since time began. 
The potentate of earthly climes , 
A freeman oft, a serf sometimes ; 

A being clothed in attributes 
Well -befitting gods or devils ; 
A creature far above the brutes, 

Yet inclining to their levels. 



WHAT IS MAN. 59 

Aye, what is man? 
T thing endowed with mind ai>d will, 
The acme of creative skill, 
Within whose span 
The force resides to master steam 
And utilize the li2:hining's gleam. 

A ruler ruled by circumstance, 
Dread nemesis in mortal fray. 
The willing dupe of sycophants. 

A coward when the donkeys bray. 

Aye, what is man? 
An entity divinely wrought, 
A soul instinct with soaring thought. 

Whose vision can , 
Unclouded by the haze of earth, 
Discern the Cause which gave it birth. 

An offshoot of angelic line , 
Sweet benison to those who're sad , 
A gentle priest at mercy's shrine, 

A wild tornado when he's mad. 

Aye, what is man? 
A nugget from celestial mine . 
An image cast in mold divine, 

Through Wisdom's plan. 
Who testifies in every place 
That he's partaker of God's grace. 

A prodigy of brawn and might, 
A noble knight, a cringing elf , 
A howling fiend, an angel bright, 

A mystery unto himself. 



60 PROFESSOR MEANJOE. 



W: 



HILE poring o'er 

Some musty lore, 
Where gossip, news and fiction blend, 

My prying eyes 

Scanned with surprise 
This mention of a long- lost friend: 

' ' The Advocate 

Is pleased to state 
That Mean joe, of Hooziers' Nest, 

Well known to us — 

The dear old cuss — 
Is coming to the growing West. 

This Meanjoe, 

Long years ago . 
'Tanned Hooziers' , at Opossum Flats. 

And's coming here 

Sometime this year 
To tan the pelts of our own brats. ' ' 

No other sign 

Or printed line 
Appeared upon this thumb -worn page, 

Whereby to trace 

The honored race 
That sired and fed and owned this sage. 

But, glancing still 

Like people will 
When searching for a friend long -gone, 

I spied a page — 

A type -writ page — 
With this epistle stamped thereon : 



PROFESSOR MEANJOF: 61 

' 'Dear Kernel noax. 

Inform yore Foax 
That I hev tuck my penn & rizz 

Tew let yew No 

That Me an joe 
Iz closing out our collidge Bizz. 

Sense Meanjoe 

Hed fur too Go 
Teechin down on aigur Rivrr 

He sez he s Felt 

Ez iff his Melt 
Is <.utgrowing brindell s Liver. 

Betwix the Shaiks, 

Tix fieeze & Snaix 
We're inflicted moast Distressing 

& hoap that Yew 

& awl yore Crew 
Is injoying the saim Blessing. 

PC AST SKRIPT. 

I right at nune, 

Nineteeth ov joon . 
From moonshine bend. Inn '92, 

& iff bob Steere 

Gozf west next Year 
I'll send this oph inn haist too Yew, 

TAIK NOTUS. 

When this yew Sea 

Rememb- r Me 
Too yore Boys & miss soPhiar, 

& iff yew've Thyme 

Too print this Rime 
I'll remane vore Friend maRiar. 



62 PROFESSOR MEANJOE. 

My dawterPeg 

& Sun peaLegg, 
Jerooshy jane & awl the Rest 

Declaire they ' 11 Go 

With Meanjoe 
Tew teech yore collidge in the West, 

CONFIDENSHUL. 

The trusteaze Down 

Tew shaikersTown, 
Besides the Regents up too trent, 

Hev rit too No 

Iff Meanjoe 
Cann serve them az their Prsydent. 

FINUS. 

I've tnck my Penn 

Inn Hand aGenn 
Fur too conclood this Peppergramm 

& let > ew No 

That Meanjoe 
Is keeping Skool fur unkel samm. 

We've nice Jimcrax 

& rair Nicknax 
& plenty smiles on us , yew No ; 

&, az a Rool, 

Each boy inn Skool 
Iz moast ez smart ez Meanjoe. 

So Pleeze apprize 

Yore trusteaze Wize 
That greenbax maik the filley Go, 

& golden Brix 

Winn awl the Trix 
When playing Skool withe 

Meanjoe, ' 



63 
CISCO'S CALAMITY, 



O, 



H, HARK! oh, hark 
A demon dark — 

Grim spawn of devils fell- 
Is swooping down 
On ranch and town. 

Fair countryside and dell . 

With hellish^haste 
He lays all waste — 

No ' 'thing of beauty' ' spares — 
His cloven hoofs 
Crush walls and roofs 

A nd rive the thoroughfares , 

The, hillsides steep 

And gorges deep 
His awful breathings feel ; 

And cot and fane 

Sink 'neaih the bane 
Of his relentless heel. 

Fair Cisco now, 

With bleeding brow, 
Lies , prone , beneath his feet ; 

Dismantled homes 

And ruined domes 
Encumber lawn and street. 



64 CISCO'S CALAMITY 



Alack! alack! 

Along' liie track 
Grim death and horrors blend I 

And searchers leap 

From heap to heap 
To liberate some friend. 

Dazed parents haste 

Along the waste 
In search of some loved form ; 

Crazed children, too. 

The search pnrsne. 
Unmindful of the storm. 

Alack- a day! 

Jove's mortars play. 
To whet the demon's wrath. 

And sulph'rons fires 

Ignite the pyres 
Left in the .storm-fiend's parh. 

Fair women wail 

And strong men qnail, 
And gasp some doomed one's name, 

As upward rise 

Unto the skies 
Vast pyramids of flame. 

Oh, wretched night! 

Oh, ghasty sight! 
Ye do our senses daze ; 

Oh, frantic grief, 

Beyond belief. 
Ye horrify our gaze! 



CISCO'S CALAMITY. 65 

May God , we pray , 

These demons lay. 
Ere all we love be lost ; 

Restrain the ire 

Of wind and fire 
And stay this hoUocaust. 

May courage stern 

Once more return, 
And cravens step aside 

Till time shall heal 

And bless with weal 
The town and countryside. 

May Hope, again, 

Return to reign , 
Fair Thrift resume her sway 

And Joy replace 

Upon each face 
The smiles of yesterday 




66 



THE LEVEL AND THE SQUARE. 



E 



RE men bad builded lodge or fane. 
So gossips do declare, 
' 'Freemasons met upon one plane 
And parted on the square. ' ' 

' They builded better than they knew, ' 

When, in the open air, 
They met upon a level true 

And parted on the square. 

The ruling prince with dainty feet 

And ' hods ' ' with shoulders bare . 

Did daily on the level meet 
And part upon the square. 

Some baron, from his country seat. 
And peasants, bent with care, 

Did often on the level meet 
And talk upon the square. 

The ''bosses'' with their kits complete 
And craftsmen bright and yare, 

Did daily on the level meet 
And build upon the square 

In dreamy mood I ponder yet 

Upon those ages fair 
When ' 'fellows' ' on the level met 

And labored on the square. 



THE LEVEL AND THE SQUARE. 67 



Yes. still in fancy I recall 

The master workman's care 

In trying ashlars, big and small, 
By level, bob and square. 

I would not, if I could, forget 
Those men of wisdom rare 

Who erst upon the level met 
And acted on the square. 

And I admire the workmen, yet, 

With reputations fair. 
Who on the level valleys met 

To work upon the square. 

No f rater, then, did once forget 
His bed and board to share 

With those who on the level met 

And ' 'travelled' ' on the square. 

Our elder brothers, wise, discreet. 
Looked with suspicious air 

At such as on the level ' 'meet" 
To ''prosper'' by the square. 

The oily tramp, the fraud, the cheat, 
The dude with bangled hair 

CJpon their ' ' level ' ' could not meet 
Or flourish on their ' 'square." 



BENEATH THE OAKS. 



Bi 



>ENEATH the oaks, the leafy oaks, 
The owls their vigils keep 
And lazy sheep contented sleep 
Beneath the leafy oaks. 

Beneath the oaks, the fi'uitful oaks. 
Fat. grunting porcines dine 
And fireflies shine and hares recline 

Beneath the fruitful oaks. 

Beneath the oaks . the friendly oaks 
Confiding tendrils twine 
And juicy vines exude their wine 

Beneath the nectared oaks. 

Beneath the oaks , the festive oaks , 
The maudlin tipplers sip, 
And jesters quip and dancers trip 

Beneath the festive oaks. 

Beneath the oaks, the spectral oaks. 
Rapacious cougars prowl, 
Cayotes howl and canines yeowi 

Beneath the spectral oaks. 

Beneath the oaks the raven croaks 

Unto the nightingale. 

And wren and quail repeat lov's tale 
Beneath enchanting oaks. 



BENEATH THE OAKS. 

Beneath the oaks, seductive oaks 
The serpent weaves his snare. 
And woman fair sinks in despair 

Beneath lamenting oaks 

Beneath the oaks religious folks 
Their pleading voices raise . 
And lover's gaze meets lover " s gaze 

Beneath the eyeless oaks 

Beneath the oaks, the bashful oaks. 

Love fashions arrow-t'ps 

And swainling lips meet virgin lips 
Ben.^ath begrudging oaks. 

Beneath the oaks the coquette yok^s 

Her victim to her train 

Until her swain votes death his gam 
Beneath dissembling oaks. 

Beneath the oaks, the solemn oaks . 

The hearse sometimes appears . 

And manly tears stain infant biers 
Beneath the weeping oaks. 

Beneath the oaks the farmer smokes 

His homely pipe of clay . 

And children play the livelong day 
Beneath the sportive oaks. 

Beneath the oaks, the winking oaks , 
Old Nimrod picks his flint. 
Meteors glint and starlets squint 

Beneath the blinking oaks 



69 



70 BENEATH THE OAKS. 

Beneath the oaks, the circling oaks. 
Young manhood's dream is turned, 
Desire is spurned and lessons learned 

Beneath the circling oaks. 

Beneath the oaks the women folks 

The golden butter churn , 

Fair maidens yearn and passions burn 
Beneath the jealous oaks. 

Beneath the oaks , the vaulting oaks , 
Ambition whets her darts. 
And envy ' s smarts sting many hearts 

Beneath ambitious oaks. 

Ueneath the oaks, the nut-brown oaks, 

Ripe acorns tumble down 

And elfins brown dun Autumn crown 
Beneath *he cone-decked oaks. 

Beneath the oaks, the mantling oaks. 
When blossoms disappear, 
The fairies dear crown Flora's bier, 

With acorns, 'neath the oaks 

Beneath the oaks, the saddened oaks, 
When merry mock-birds leave , 
Sad linnets grieve from morn to eve 

Peneath the saddened oaks. 

Beneath the oaks , protecting oaks , 
When snowflakes fleck the skies. 
Jack Rabbit wise to shelter hies 

Beneath protecting oaks. 



BENEATH THE OAKS. 71 

Beneath the oaks, the choral oaks. 

Should other joys depart > 

Some muse's art will cheer my heart 
Beneath the choral oaks. 

Beneath the ever-living oaks , 

When life shall slip away. 

I ' d have you lay my lifeless clay 
'Neath ever living oaks. 



LIGHT'S NATAL DAY, 



C/REATION stalked in inky space- 
Drear, desolate, forlorn— 

Ere Order took Confusion's place 
And Da> and Night were born. 

Weird shadows mantled sky and sea, 
Earth groped in cheerless night 

Till Wisdom uttered this decree : 

Henceforth ' 'Let there be light. 

Ten thousand planets cry aloud, 
' ' Begone , oh , dismal Night ! ' ' 

And suddenly , from out the cloud , 
Appears primeval light 



LIGHT'S NATAL DAY. 



Submissive stars file into plar^e : 
Dawn's banners are unfurled : 

Grim Chaos hides his wrinkled face 
And Order rules the world. 

Astonished Silence pricks her ears 
And quakes at Jove's command. 

And startled Chaos disappears 

When Dawn displays her hand. 

Glum Midnight's gates are set ajar- 
Stars clap their hands and shout — 

As smiling Sun and Morning star 

Fling Dawn's bright banners out. 

Retreating darkness rends her veil 
And Dreamland wakes from sleep 

.^ s primal Dawn, with optics pale. 
Does through the gloaming peep. 

Deformity forsakes her realm 
And Beauty steps in place ; 

Unfettered Slumber doffs her helm 
And scans fair Morning's face. 

The yawning caverns ope their eyes. 

Weird shadows flit away 
And Twilight paints the earth and skies 

With dimpled, golden rays. 



LIGHT'S NATAL DAY. 73 

The gnomes foergo their midnight feast, 

Blind ghouls their lids unfold 
To gaze upon the glowing east. 

New-clad in robes of gold. 

The valleys sing a gladsome song. 

The hills repeat the strain , 
And minstrels of the sky prolong 

Earths jubilant refrain. 

The mountains lift their hoary heads , 

The rivers laugh in glee 
And oceans leap from out their beds 

Light's rosy cheeks to see. 

The forests high their voices raise , 

Old North wind tunes his horn, 
To celebrate , with notes of praise , 

The advent of young Morn. 

The lilies fair and asphodels, 

Bright roses clad in charms . 
And pansies, pinks and daffodils 

Disport in Sunlight's arms. 

.iSiolic lyres with sweetest notes, 

Join in the roundelay 
Ascending from a ten thousand throats 

And hymn Light's Natal Day. 



74 



EXCHANGE. 



rHILE ponderina: one night 
On the temperance cause , 
King Alcohol ' s victims 

And the state's liquor laws , 
My thoughts were arrested 

By the names and designs 
That I've seen paraded 

As whiskey-sellers' signs. 

Yes, hung o'er the entrance 

To the rum demons home 
We see some bright sentence 

To entice men to come 
And crucify virtue. 

For the profit of knaves , 
Tnd sacrifice honor 

On the altars of slaves. 

They've "Altas" and "Eagles," 

And • 'Retreats" and ' 'Arcades,'' 
• • Palaces ' ' and ' ' Parlors , ' ' 

And "Pavillions" and "bhades;' 
But there's an apter name 

That the rumsellers place 
O'er their purlieus of shame 

To proclaim man's disgrace. 



EXCHANGE. 75 

That name is more common ; 

To but few is it strange ; 
A name of ill omen : 

' Tis Exchange ! "The Exchange. " 

EXCHAJSTGE! Oh, what portents 

Of debasement it bears 
When hung o'er the portals 

Of those soul-killing snares, 

Where man oft exchanges 

His escutcheon of truth 
For rum, which estranges 

Grood intentions of youth . 

Exchanges a pure heart 

And an intellect bright 
For offenses which start 

From the wine cup ' s dread blight . 

Exchanges a bright home 

Peace , refinement and ease 
For a sin-haunted slum, 

Pinching want and disease. 

Exchanges his manhood, 

Noble , gen ' rous and brave , 
For wild passions which brood 

In the breast of a knave. 

Exchanges the solace 

That ' 8 given by prayer 
For Satan's libations 

And the wails of despair. 



76 EXCHANGE. 

Exchanges the prattle 

Of an innocent child 
For bachanal revels 

And a conscience defiled. 

Exchanges mother's smiles- 
Bringing shame to her face — 
For the rumseller's wiles 

And the tippler's disgrace. 

Exchanges love divine 

And sweet domestic bliss 

For a tankard of wine 

And the serpent's foul kiss 

Exchanges hopes of kin, 

And a father's desire, 
, For a bumper of gin 

And the doom of hell -fire. 

Exchanges blessings dear— 
E ' en the love of a wif e— 

For the rumguzzler's leer 
And the debauchee's life. 

Exchanges his fair fame 

For the winebibber's lot, 

And an untarnished name 
For the name of a sot. 

Exchanges peace for strife 

And the chains of a slave, 

When exchanges his life 

For the dram-drinker's grave 



77 



'TWIXT YOU AND I." 



1 WIXT you and I, 
Said Lena Fay, 
The other day , 
' ' I abhor Sue Banners 
And, if I may, 
I'll find a way 
To improve her manners, 
Bye and bye. 

'Twixt you and I 
She can't deny, 
The vixen sly. 
That, when here last Monday, 
She sung and played— 
The flirting jade ! 
And tossed a kiss to Grundie— 
From one eye 

' Twixt you and I , 
Perhaps she thinks , 
The horrid sphynx. 
My vjyes were in eclipse 
And could not see 
The kisses she 
Bestowed on Grundie 's lips 
On the sly . 



78 "'TWIXTYOU AND I." 

' Twixt you and I , 
The Queerleys say 
Whenever they 
Pass along our siding 
They overhear— 
Is that not queer?— 
Tu (two) lips colliding 
With a sigh. 

' ' Twixt you and I 
At Beacher's Bay , 
Some time in May , ' 
Says Samantha Tanners, 
' I noticed him 
Right in the swim 
With Susanna Banners. ' 
Then says I : 

' ' Twixt you and I , 
In former days 
Such horrid ways 
Were not tolerated \ 

And belles and beaux 
In swimming clothe» 
Were abominated, 
On the sly.' 

'Twixt you and I 
Sylvester Browne, 
The legal clown , 
Says that Judge Profundy 
Declared to him 
And partner, Slimm, 
That he'd 'settle Grundie, 
On the sly. ' 



79 
"'TWIXT YOU AND I." 

' Twixt you and I , 
Old Browne is off 
And Slimm's a muff 
And Judge Profundy ' s vain . 
If they expect 
That all their sect 
Could separate us twain 
Ere we die. 

'Twixt you and I, 
Till close of life 
I'm Grundie's wife. 
And he ' s my own Grunnie ; 
And wrath pursue 
His Judgship who 
Parts our waj'S for money, 
On the sly . ' ' 




80 


TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW. 


1 0-DAY, alas! 


The patient ass 


May swelter in the furrow, 


But Master will 


His manger fill 


With provender to-morrow. 


To-day the bees. 


Upon the leas. 


Despite the hawk and sparrow , 


Will gather mell 


I From leaf and cell 


To feed their broods to-morrow. 


To-day the snail 


Winds up his tail 


And slinks into his burrow. 
But busy Pug 


May find the slug 


And wind him up to-morrow, 


To-day the clown. 


In freckled gown , 


The punster's quips may borrow, 


But they, alack! 


May sting his back, 


Like scorpions, to-morrow. 



TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW. 81 

To-day the elf. 
Enrobed in self, 

Ignores his neighbor's sorrow, 
But he should know 
That changeless woe 

Awaits such churls to-morrow. 

To-day some belle, 
Who would excel, 

May from the rainbow borrow, 
But she, perhaps, 
When colors lapse. 

May be a hag to-morrow. 

To-day some maid 
Who's "not afraid' ' 

May laugh at cupid's arrow, 
But she, perchance. 
May feel his lance 

Beneath her basque to-morrow. 

To-day some sprig 
May freely "swig, ' ' 

To drown the imps of sorrow , 
But those who ' 'swill' ' 
Mayhap will fill 
A drunkard's grave to-morrow. 

To-day some boy 
With fiendish joy 

May shie a poisoned arrow, 
But he may feel 
The baneful steel 

In his own flesh to-morrow. 



82 



TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW. 

To day, my friend, 
My words attend, 

And from my pencil borrow 
A little tint 
Of light, to glint 

Along thy path to-morrow, 

To-day, if you 
Hope's lights pursue. 

Love's peerless wardrobe borrow. 
You may, perchance. 
Your weal enhance 

And gladden friends to-morrow. 

To-day, oh^ manl 
You, doubtless, can 

Uplift some child of sorrow 
And. with your ' 'tips, ' ' 
Persuade his lips 

To smile, again, to-morrow, 

To day each youth, 
Pursuing truth, 

A gleam of light may borrow 
And send that ray 
Of light away 

To cheer eome wretch to-morrow. 

To-day, forsooth — 
This is the truth — 

We do too often borrow 
Some portent wise. 
From seer or skies , 

Which augurs ill to-morrow 



TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW, 83 



To day, I know, 
One -half the woe 

Which mortals often borrow 
From foul or knave 
Or prophet grave , 

Remains unpaid to-morrow. 
To day — just now — 
Decline to bow 

Beneath a threatened sorrow. 
And you will find 
That angels kind 

Will rift the clouds to-morrow. 




84 

OPOSSUM FLATS. 



T5VE sometime read, in rhyme or prose, 
■*- About a roving tar- heel band 
That ' 'went out west," the stoiy goes, 

' 'To hunt for game and enter land. 
One day they stopped' ' the annal says, 

' 'To graze their steers and rest their brats' 
Amid the hills and ^helving brays 

That overlook Opossum Flats. 

' 'And there. " the truthful scribe pursued, 

' 'The peering brats the wigwam spied. 
Wherein the Prophet-Warrior wooed 

And won his fawn -eyed Shawnee bride, ' ' 
They hivoucked near a laughing stream 

That wantoned on the prairie's breast 
Till, like a smile or poet's dream. 

It vanished in the blushing west. 

The annal said that ''Flora fair 

Surveyed the land thr*>ugh go.t;gles green 
And Beauty fainted, in despair, 

Whilst viewing the enchanting scene. 
Pomona looked with jealous glance 

Upon the fruitful dells and brays 
And Ceres scanned, with eyes askance, 

Tecumseh's teeming fields of maize. 

Amid these haunts of savage men. 

Where beasts of prey forever strayed 
O'er tangled brake and sedgy fen. 

Fair valleys, hills and everglade. 
They built a house of blocks and lime, ' ' 

Declares the modest writer's pen, 
• ' Which has withstood the waste of time 

For more than fourscore years and ten . ' ' 



OPOSSUM FLATS, 85 

Two giant oaks — brave sentinels — 

Keep watch beside the cottage door 
And roses, pinks and asphodels 

Still blossom as they did of yore. 
That rivulet, mid pebbly banks, 

Meanders through the bloomy plain 
And skipping lambs, with merry pranks. 

Run races down the tree -girt lane. 

And— where the catamounts and bears 

Erst foraged for their hungry broods. 
And Ij'nx-eyed panthers had their lairs 

Amid the gloomy solitudes — 
The grangers now, with hoe and plow. 

Daily tickle the fertile soil. 
And garners groan and cellars moan 

Beneath the products of their toil. 

And— where those rippling fountains leap 

From underneath the sandstone wall 
And fructify the vale and steep , 

Bewitching meadows, fields, and all — 
The race equine and mild -eyed kine 

Contented drink and lave and graze . 
And lazy swine forever dine 

On clover, peas and tempting maize. 

The gardens, vineyards, orchard plots. 

As each succeeding fruit -time comes, 
Yield ample stores of apricots 

And quinces, apples, pears and plums, 
Ruby cherries , toothsome berries 

And peaches, grapes and nectarines, 
Whilst in the brakes the sweet mandrakes 

Still thrive beside wild muscadines. 



86 OPOSSUM FLATS. 

And now, where once those red men roamed 

Through dingle, vale and everglade. 
There stands a city paved and domed — 

A busy, bustling mart of trade — 
Where endless broods of fops and dudes 

And shopmen with their hundred wares, 
In diverse moods and attitudes. 

Forever throng her thoroughfares. 

And, where Tecumseh's wigwam stood 

(A. rendezvous for Shawnee bands). 
Hard by that selfsame stream and wood 

An institute of learning stands, 
Where reckless boys mid din and noise 

Chase flying balls o^er near by hills, 
And romping girls, with loosened curls, 

Run races with the waltzing rills. 

And, where those sturdy pioneers 

Repelled grim foes and reared estates. 

Grandchildren now, unawed by fears, 
Securely dwell within their gates. 

That laughing stream — so like a dream— 
(A benediction to those ' 'brats' ' ) 

Meanders still beneath the hill 

Which overlooks Opossum Flats. 



87 



I'M PINING TO KNOW, 



1 M scanning to-night 
The fast -fading light, 

From the embers' soft glow. 
Inquiring , the while , 
If homefolks still smile 

As they did years ago 

Yes . I ■ m pining to know 
If father and mother, 
Sisters and brother 
Are looking as neat 
And smiling as sweet 

As they did years ago 

sweet, gentle muse, 

1 p^ay. don't refuse 

To impart all you know : 
Does mother still sit 
In her chair and knit . 

As she did years ago? 

And I'm pining to know 
If father still plows 
And curries the cows 
And tedders the hay 
In sunshiny May , 

Like he did years ago. 



I'M PINING TO KNOW. 

O tell me, sweetheart, 
Ere thou dost depart — 

For I'm pining to know — 
Does brother * 'plant oats' ' 
A nd worry the goats , 

Like he did years ago? 

Yes, I'm pining to know 
If sometimes he takes 
Ma's brown ginger cakes 
And ' ' swaps ' ' them to boys 
For Jewsharps and toys , 

Like he did j^ears ago. 



And, oh! gentle muse. 
If you will excuse 

Me, I ' d like to know 
(How much I can't tell) : 
Is ' ' Halie ' ' as well 

As she was years ago? 

Yes, I'm pining to know 
That her fluffy hair 
Is glossy and fair. 
And her liquid eyes 
Resemble the skies. 

Like they did years ago. 



Are laddies as spry 
And lassies as shy? 

Oh ! I'm pining to know 
If suitors ' ' propose ' ' 
And girls ' 'lift the nose, ' ' 

Like they did years ago . 



I'M PINING TO KNOW. ^ §9 

I also would know 
If swain] ings ' 'repine 
For angek divine, 
And damsels elude 
The coxcomb and dude , 

Like they did years ago. 

Do backlogs still blaze 
On cold winter days , 

And the hearthrocks still glow? 
Do Pussey and Pug 
Recline on the rug , 

Like they did years ago? 

Yes , I ' m pining to know 
That Pupgy's as sly 
And Pusse>'s as spry 
And scamper away 
In quest of their prey , 

Like they did years ago. 

Does Auntie repose 

With specks on her nose— 

With both cheekp all aglow— 
And Uncle define 
The ' 'Message Divine, ' ' 

Like they did years ago? 

Yes, I'm pining to know 
That Uncle is still 
''Proclaiming God's will," 
And Auntie's bright smile 
Is free from all guile , 

Like it was years ago. 



90 I'M PINING TO KNOW. 

Do wild geese forsake 
The meadows and lake, 

Ere the coming of snow, 
And linnete repair 
To regions more fair. 

Like they did years ago? 

Yes , I'm pining to know 
If chipmunks betake 
Themselves to the brake. 
And pigeons retreat 
At the coming of sleet. 

Like they did years ago. 

Do laddies drive sleighs 
Propelled by four bays, 

Through the deep-drifted snow 
And maids, jumping in, 
Redouble the din , 

Like they did years ago? 

Yes , I'm pining to know 
If lasses and boys 
Partake of those joys, 
Supposed to await 
Sweethearts at the gate, 

Like they did years ago 

Do skaters betake 
Themselves to the lake, 

To ''befigure the snow;" 
Or fall , in a trice , 
Through holes in the ice. 

Like they did years ago? 



I'M PINING TO KNOW. 91 

Yes, I'm pining to know 
If, ' 'sliding" away 
At dawning of day, 
They make -'a blue streak 
O'er millpond and creek, 

Like they did years ago . 

Does plenty abide 
At the countryside , 

And cupboards o'erflow? 
Do pancakes arise 
To greet pumpkin pies 

Like they did years ago? 

Oh ! I ' m pining to know 
That doughnuts funny, 
Dripping with honey, 
Still ''sadisfy" girls 
And '"peacify" churls 

Like they did years ago. 

Do work -hands arise 
Ere Sol climbs the skies, 

Or the cockerels crow, 
And feed the gray mare 
And gloze up her hair 

Like they did years ago? 

Yes, I'm pining to know 
That hands never shirk 
Their duties and work, 
But hasten a -field 
Whilst Sol is concealed 

Like they did j^ears ago . 



92 I'M PINING TO KNOW. 

Does patient old ' ' Cook ' ' 
Reside in that nook, 

With full cellars below. 
And leaven the bread 
And " ' dodder' ' her head 

Like she did years ago? 

Yes. I'm pining to know 
That Cook still resides 
Where plenty abides 
And fashions and bakes 
Cute crullers and cakes 

Like she did years ago. 

Doraveas e'er com 3 
To sadden their home 

With weird croakings of woe? 
Do kites hasten by 
The mansion and cry 

Like they did years ago? 

Yes, I'm pining to know 
That children, at least, 
Continue to feast 
And angels, a -wing, 
Glad messages bring, 

Like they did years ago. 




93 



•THE MOTE THAT'S IN THY BROTHERS EYE.' 



My Christian friend, should you descry 

A pesky stye or beam or mite 
Impinging on your neighbor's eye, 

And threatening his moral sight: 

Be not in haste to lectify 

llie obliqae ray. remove the mite 
Or puncture the intruding stye, 

Expecting to improve his sight. 

First pond-r well ; and do not act 
Till you consult a mirror's light. 

And there behold the cataract 

Which i£ impairing your own sight. 

Then pay some occulist to cleanse. 

With couching style and helping knife , 

The opaque substance from the lens 
And thus restore your orb to life 

Then you may see, through eyes of love, 
How to incise the festering stye. 

And understand how to remove 

' 'The mote that's in thy brother's eye. 



94 



I'LL NEER FORGET. 



B 



'ROTHERS, farewell; a long adieu! 

I break this chain with fond regret 1 
But should T never more see you, 

Though distant far , I ' 11 not forget 
The pleasant moments we have passed 

Beneath j^on star's effulgent ray. 
Such precious hours ; too bright to last I 

I ' 11 ne ' er forget , though far away . 



Before we say good-bye , at last, 

Or I have laid this gavel by, 
Let's plant yon flagstaff deep and fast 

And fling our banner to the sky. 
With Faith emblazoned on each shield, 

Sweet Charity and Hope as guides, 
And courage to possess the field, 

We need not fear, whate'er betides. 



When I am in my distant home 

To you my thoughts will ever stray. 
And pleasant memories will come 

To cheer me, though I'm far away. 
The restless moments flee amain 

And I , alas ! must say adieu ; 
But though we never meet again , 

I will forever think of you . 



HE FOUND THE WAY. 95 



A 



TRAVELLER to grief a prey, 
His age by cares beset, 
Had journeyed o'er life's rugged way 
To where two pathways met. 

The right-hand path led up a hill, 
Its summit draped in snow, 

The other down, and downward still, 
To dreary wastes below. 

He, doubting, gazed a little while 

Upon his left and right ; 
Above him loomed that misty pile, 

Below was cheerless night. 

Then, turning round and looking back 
O'er steeps he'd crossed before, 

He plaintive cried, ''Alack, alack! 
I'm weary, weak and sore. ' ' 

And, bending low, he faintly said : 
" T hy way , at last , I see , 

Leads ever up and straight ahead — 
Oh, Father! lead thou me. ' ' 

His eyelids close. Anon he sleeps 
Whilst fancy's shuttle weaves 

A web of valleys, woods and steeps. 
Rare fruits and golden sheaves. 

Again, awakened from his sleep, 

He saw the curtain gray 
Had vanished from the misty steep ; 

And clear appeared the way. 



96 HE FOUND THE WAY. 

A virgin clothed in garments bright . 

And in her hand a wand, 
Bade him ascend the toppling height 

And view the realms beyond. 

Forsaking, then, his lowly bed 

He did the task essay. 
Exclaiming while he onward sped, 

' 'At last I've found the way!' ' 

His strength restored, his halting gone, 
His vision once more clear. 

He bravely struggled , up and on , 
Unfettered now by fear. 

Proceeding onward . upward still , 

An ocean he espied 
Emerging from the crested hill, 

Tow'rd which his footsteps hied. 

As he approached the ocean's brim. 
To taste its cooling wave , 

An angel f air , accosting him , 

Straightway this counsel gave : 

' ' Dismiss all doubts which cumber thee , 
Cast earthly cares aside. 

Forget the world and follow me 
Across yon river's tide. " 

The twain the ocean quickly neared, 
Rejoicing on their way , 

x\nd o'er its waters dieappeared 
Forever and for aye . 



97 



THREESCORE YEARS AND TEN. 



iVn 1 threescore 3'ears and added ten ! 

Fast-fleeting, yet how dear! 
Ye magnify the hopes of men, 

Then quickly disappear. 

We welcome you with childish glee, 

But bid you swifter go 
And wonder why your steps must be 

So wearisome and slow. 

Oft we condemn your slothful freaks. 
Your irksome , tardy ways , 

Which lengthen hours to tiresome weeks 
And moments into days 

Aye, halting years, how slow ye pass, 

Ere life attains its noon . 
But when its zenith comes, alas' 

Ye speed away too soon . 

Ah! years of toil, of pleasure, ease, 

Of schemes untimely born, 
A cycle of despiar, disease, 
\mbition, love and scorn. 

An ago of hope, of anxious thought, 

Of safety and surprise ; 
A period most strangely fraught 

With sloth and enterprise . 



98 THREESCORE YEARS AND TEN. 

When man approaches ripened age 
Ye teach hkn, then, hi« doona 

And lead him. off life's busy stage 
Into the silent tomb 

But, threescore years and added^ten, 
Or long, or short ye be. 

You ' re long enough for sensate men 
To win Life ' s victory . 




99 
GOD'S CHOSEN PLAN. 



T, 



EX bearded men 

With knowing ken, 
From pulpit, bar and store. 

Sat by the grate 

Of Deacon Waite 
And talked the ScripUires o'er. 

Great, pond ' rous sheaves 

Of Gospel leaves 
Were subject to their scan , 

And from some sheaf 

Each culled a leaf 
To prove his cherished ' plan. 

♦'By faith," one cried, 

' ' We ' re justified : 
For here ' tis written twice : 

' If ye believe 

Ye shall receive " 
The joys of Paradise 

Says number two , 

' ' Christ died for you 
And all of Adams race; 

Hence, I conclude 

The multitude 
Is saved alone by grace . ' ' 



100 GOD S CHOSEN PLAN. 

' 'God foreordained, ' ' 
The third explained, 

' 'Ere stars the heavens gemmed, 
That whom he chose 
Should find repose ; 

And others He condemned. • ' 

' ' A vann't . sect lore ! • ' 

Quoth number four. 
* ' That Scripture's been revised : 

Christ's promise saves 

The devil's slaves 
If they will be baptised. " 

' 'I'll never dive,'' 

Said number five, 
' 'Beneath cold Jordan -s flood :; 

For 'Tod's own Son— 

Incarnate One — 
Has washed me with His blood. ' 

' ' Good works affix , ' * 

Quoth number six, 
• 'Unto your sev'ral creeds, 

' ' For here 'tis said . 

'Your faith is dead, ' 
If not sustained by deeds. ' ' 

' 'The texts I've read. ' ' 

The seventh said, 
' Have failed to make it clear 

How man may r<^ach 

That mj'stic beach 
To which ye Christians steer. 



GOD'S CHOSEN PLAN. 101 

' ' Man ■ s final fate , ' ' 

Quoth number eight, 
' 'You have not yet made plain , 

So I'll premise 

That w hen he dies 
He'll never live again." 

Says number nine, 

' ' 1 do opine , 
Your arguments prove naught ; 

If God be just 

He surely must 
Preserve what Jesus bought." 

' ' I am prepared , ' ' 

The tenth declared, 
' 'To answer all your texts, 

Explode the creeds 

And damn the deeds 
Of all dogmatic sects. 

' 'But love doth chain 

My heart and brain 
And bids my tongue be still 

Till I present 

This Testament- 
True record of God's will. 

" Oh , Bible mine ! 

Oh , Book divine ! 
What treasures thou dost hold! 

In tender youth 

I sought thy truth • 
And trust thee now I'm old. 



102 GOD'S CHOSEN PLAN. 

' ' Geology 

And chemistry 
May call thy facts absuri • 

Perchance suggest 

Some crucial test 
To down thy sacred word. 

''However, just 

Beneath the crust 
Tiiera lies -thoagh hid from you- 

A richer store 

Of precious ore 
Than Ophir ever knew. 

' 'Let Paine declare 

And Volney swear. 
' Twas written by man's hand.' 

Yet skeptics wise 

Cannot devise 
A scheme one-half so grand. 

' 'Here science can 
Perceive the plan 

Which fixed the planet s course 
And, also, find 
The laws designed 

To govern life and force. 

' Herein the blind 
May eyesight find, 

Herein the way ward's taught ; 
Herein maj' page, 
King, bard and sage 

Find food to nourish thought. 



GOD'S CHOSEN PLAN. 103 

* It teaches you 
How to pursue 

That straight and narrow way,' 

Through which, 'tis said, 

The Christian's led 
Into eternal day. 

* Should you engage 
To «can each page , 

Through eyes of f aitb and love , 

You then may ope 

Truth's envelope 
And find Life's treasure- trove. " 

And straightway then 

These bearded men 
Each bowed beside his chair 

And did repeat, 

In manner meet. 
This simple . Christ-like prayer : 

"Oh, God of might 

And peace and light ! 
At once my conscience move 

And condescend. 

Right now, to send 
Some token of thy love, 

• ' Whereby I may 

Discern the way 
Which leads to life, indeed, 

And never more 

With garbled lore 
Attempt to boltser 'Creed.' 



104 GOD'S CHOSEN PLAN. 

' ' Let love and hope 

My eyelids ope ; 
From biap make me free ; 

Let truth divine 

Within me shine 
And light the way to Thee. 

" Oh , do forestall 
The bigot , s thrall ! 

That everyone may see 
And under.stand 
That each 'Command' 

With others does agree. 

' ' Oh , push aside 

Self-will and pride ! 
Confound the schemes of man ! 

That all our creeds, 

And also deeds, 
Maj verify Thy Plan. ' ' 




105 



THE SCHOOL BENEATH THE HILL. 



[Do ijou remember the school beneath 
the Ai//?— Reuben Drake. 



Y, 



ES, I remember, Reuben Drake, 
"The schoolhouse 'neath the hill, ' ' 
Beside the glassy, dimpled lake 

Which turned Tom Trubo's mill. 

Aj-e , yes ! Upon a slope it stood , 

Near by Roaring River, 
Whose angry, swirling, plunging flood 

Plashed and foamed forever. 

Hard by a hundred brooklets gushed 
From out Tecumseh.s side 

And, purling, vs^hirling, leaping, rushed 
Away with ' ' Roarie ' s ' ' 

It nestled 'mid the aspen trees, 
Where rose and jessamine 

And clinging moss and climbing peas 
With honeysuckles twine. 

' Twas built of logs from out the brakes 
And chinked with sticks and lime. 

Its roof composed of poles and shakes. 
Its chimneys' 'daubed" with slime. 



106 THE SCHOOL BENEATH THE HILL. 

'Twas very old and badly scarred 
B}' time ' s remorseless tooth 

When I, your humble friend and bard, 
Was but a beardless youth . 

'Twas understood, from old folk lore, 
That neighbors Stout and Short, 

Who erstwhile kept a peltry store. 
First used it as a fort. 

Be't trueorfalse, 'twas snug and tight. 

Its puncheon floors were strong : 
Eleven cubits was its height ; 

Full twice as wide and long. 

From year to year and sun to sun 
Full sixscore girls and boys, 

Imbued with gayety and fun , 

Thrilled all its halls with noise. 

1 remember Betsy Wasson, 
Paul, Tom and Mary Fry, 

Jake Cook and Susana Slawson 
And blue-eyed Katie Blye. 

Ike and Att and Diana Cox , 
Bewitching Angie Moss, 

Jot Shoup and pretty Ellen Fox, 
Nick Sharp and Ivy Ross. 

Dan and Dave and Lizzie Chenny, 
Obe Price, Belinda Strong, 

Rose Dewees , Lucretia Denny 
And matchless Jennie Long. 



THE SCHOOL BENEATH THE HILL. 107 

Saraantha and Jemima Stearnes, 

Buck Brooks and Sade Ferris , 
Pete, Tim. Joe and Jerusha Barns , 

Dick White and Pat Merris, 

Ben. Sam, Joe and Willie Rallston, 

Jim Brown and Sadie Bray, 
Jack and shy Amanda Alston, 

Abe Black and Hattie Gray. 

NedHarte, Will. Luke and Tilda More, 

Hugh , Bruce and Sally Marks, 
Iradell Boston, Celia Gore 

And Frank and Polly Starks . 

Jemmie O ' Groat and Pat Malone . 

Jeff Pease and Puss Slocumb, 
Sime Fair, Sol Lowe and Lily Stone 

And roguish Moll Yocum ; 

Phill, Cape, Sude and Mattie Bundy, 

Pat Choate and Lettie Yost, 
Matt Quinn and fat Horace Grundy. 

Queen Lisle and Ludie Post ; 

Job Smith, Bob and Susie Finney, 

Lum Morse and Millie Waite, 
Tuck Sloan, Pop and Mabel Kinney, 

Bet Jones and Birdie Tate ; 

Lon Payne, Sadie Moon, inlinsey gown, 

Steve Lake and Pony Ray, 
Frank Coon, yourself and Daisy Towne, 

Pet Kyle and Libby May ; 



108 THE SCHOOL BENEATH THE HILL. 

BillBynum, Mitt Self , Mabel Church 
And I and Nathan Crews 

All ' ' went to school ' ' to Slashem Birch , 
Who ' 'shaped' ' our Ps and Qs. 

'Tis fifty years, good Reuben Drake, 
Since you and I have seen 

That water-mill and dimpled lake 
And schoolhouse on the green. 

Aye , fifty j^ears of toil and tears , 
Of hope and fond desire , 

Of mingled bliss and cares and tears 
And ills and mishaps dire 

Have fled, with shifting lights and shades 
And changing^riefs and joys. 

Since those bewitching Hoozier maids 
And threescore backwoods boys. 

And many more from Duncan's Bray, 
Opossum Flats and Poole. 

Through winter bleak and smiling May, 
Conned lessons in that school . 

Or haply , hying from the green 
Engaged, as students do, 

In rowing ' neath the starry sheen , 
In skiff or frail canoe. 

Perchance ascended mountain ' s side 

In quest of berries ripe, 
Or watched at night the streams beside 

To bag unwary snipe. 



THE SCHOOL BENEATH THE HILL. 109 

Or, seeking the secluded nooks, 

Ensnared the trusting lout. 
Or angled in the frieudlj^ brooks 

For catfish , chubs and trout . 

Oh, enchanting, winsome wildwood ! 

How many precious hours 
We spent in unheeding childhood 

'Mid thy tempting bowers! 

Recking never that the morrow 

Would bring misfortunes sore. 
And o'erburden us with sorrow, 

Alas! forevermore. 

But moralize howe'er we may 

On boyhood, wrong or right. 
Its sportive freaks oft chase aw^ay 

The clouds from manhood's night. 



110 

EULOGY AND FLATTERY. 



JJyNCOMIUMS so closely blend 
With flattery, their next of kin, 

'Tis hard to tell where praises end 
And servile blarney does begin. 

' 'There's a difference, ' " say my friends, 
' ' 'Twixt blarney and encomium ; ' ' 

But that ' 'difference' ' always ends 
In tweedledee and tweedledum. 

We eulogize a woman's tact, 

Her beauty and accomplishments, 

Ne ' er dreaming that our praise , in fact . 
Is wasted on thin blandishments, 

Quite oft, alas! when mortals think 
They're expressing approbation , 

Somehow, their chosen phrases sink 
Into fawning adulation. 

If praising innate loveliness, 

We fall into cajolery, 
Ne'er dreaming that our words express 

More flattery than eulogy. 

If we commend some gifted friend , 
Our complimentary phrases , 

In spite of us. Quite often end 

In disgusting, fulsome praises. 



EULOGY AND FLATTERY. Ill 

And when we laud one's eloquence, 

Matchless voice, superior sense. 
Our words, designed as compliments, 

Are wasted on grandiloquence. 

Be my premises false or true — 

My critics howl howe'er they may, 

In spite of all the carping crew— 

You may believe what now I say : 

Let terms of praise and blarney blend— 
And let those who may abuse them — 

Whilst there is virtue to commend 
I am very apt to use them. 

And though the critics rise in arms 

To annihilate my phrases. 
So long as Beauty sports her charms 

They shall ever sing her praises. 

Should Vanity display her wiles, 

Decoy me with her blandishments, 

I'll pay her ' 'taffy" ' for her smiles 
And surfeit her with "compliments.', 

Should Truth for recognition plead 

I shall heartilj'^ applaud her. 
Or Honor covet Praise's meed, 

Most assuredly I'll laud her. 

Should Modesty from danger fly 

Praise s tongue will eulogize her ; 

Should Impudence for blarney sigh 
I, forsooth, will advertise her. 



112 



HARD TIMES. 



O. 



'NE day I called at Croaker Bines 
(To dun him for some dimes) . 
And luckily obtained these views 
Relating to ' ' Hard Times , ' ' 

' ' Hard times , ' ' said he in deepest woe , 
' ' Has ever been my guest ; 

No matter where I stay or go 
I see her horrid crest. 

A ghastly imp of fiendish brood — 
Spawned in some demon's fold — 

Her weazen face and attitude 
Are awful to behold. 

She subjects men of many trades 

Unto her iron rule. 
Bankrupting those of humbler grades 

In shop, on farm, in school. 

She laughs at statesmen , scorns the sage. 
Ignores the widow ' s pray ' rs . 

Witholds the crumbs from feeble age 
To fatten millionaires. 

I've prayed McKinley, Peffer, Mills— 
And tipped them well sometimes— 

To give us laws to cure the ills 
Occasioned by Hardtimes. 



HARD TIMES, 113 

I've voted for free silverites, 

Reps, Pops, Groldites, and all, 
Expecting to obtain my rights 

And get some pie, withal. 

I've took their nostrums, one and all — 

Gold draff and fiat pill — 
But, notwithstanding that, this fall 

Hardtimes is master still. 

1 tell you. Doc, I'm in a stew ; 

There's nothing in my till — 
My help s unpaid, my taxes, too— 

Hence I cant meet your bill. ' ' 

With pity , then , I turned my scan 

Full on the cringing elf 
And, rising, said: " God helps the man 

Who strives to help himself. ' ' 

Proceeding on , with quickened pace , 

I overtook a sage. 
Upon whose brow I read a trace 

Of wisdom and ripe age. 

' 'Kind sir,'' said I, oh, tell me please 

' ' Are there no favored climes 
Where people live mid wealth and ease 
And never know hard times? ' ' 

"Oh, yes, ' ' quoth he, as we sped on, 

''Ere age my body bent 
I found that blessed spot upon 

The Island of Content. 



114 HARD TIMES. 



There justice weighs with even scales 
The cause of small and great, 

And happiness fore ' er prevails 
In field, in mart, in state. 

The money crank's befuddled howl. 
And labor prophet's slime, 

The statesman ' s lips do ne ' er befoul 
In that auspicious clime. 

Vile communistic vagabonds 
Have never cursed its soil, 

So, peace prevails and thrift responds 
To well-aimed strokes of toil 

The people, too, forever 'pay 

The fiddler as they go, ' 
So those who dance and those who play 

Debt's burdens never know. 

Her rulers wise have never lent 
An ear to schemers' tricks, 

Wherefore, 'hard times' and discontent 
Have fled beyond the Styx . ' ' 



^ 



n 



115 



THE MODEL STUDENT. 



1 HE model student's never late, 
He's at his desk at half -past eight. 

His lips are clean, his walk discreet, 
No flies assail his booted feet. 

His garb is neat, he sits erect 

And treats his classmates with respect. 

He's not a guy, at home nor school. 
Nor rates his teacher as "a fool. ' ' 

He rarely yawns, he doesn't drawl 
And never shies a paper ball. 

He seldom sulks, avoids all noise 
And keeps his head in proper poise. 

He, like another model youth. 
On all occasions, tells the truth. 

He shuns the dude, ignores the plod. 
Respects himself and honors God. 

His speech is chaste , his features blight , 
He spurns the wrong , upholds the right. 



116 THE MODEL STUDENT. 



To brighter boys he yields the prize , 
Yet with the brightest always vies. 

His well -used books are near at hand, 
His slate and pencils at command. 

The three ' ' Big Rs ' ' are his delight — 
He loves to ' 'cipher, ' ' read and write. 

He's always ready to recite 
And's just as smart as he's polite. 

His "A, B, Cs and X, Y, Zs" 
Are handled with a conscious ease. 

He's eloquent, quite witty, ;too, 
And modulates each ' 'P and Q. " ' 

He seizes thoughts with keenest zest, 
Transplanting them inside his vest. 

Pure English prose affords him sport, 
But syntax is his strongest fort : 

He links each sentence joint to joint 
And gives each clause a proper point. 

His diction's good, his pose divine ; 
His language flows like mellow wine. 

His essays all are ' ' done up brown ; * ' 
His ' ' figures fetch the benches down . ' ' 



117 



IF, MAY, AND BUT. 



A 



LITTLE lo-an, -a gift, perchance, 
Timely helps to lighten labor — 

If such helps are in demand— 
A kindly grip , a cheering glance 
May uplift your falling neighbor, 

But self-help must make him stand. 



A mild reproof, by love begot, 

A friendly nod, an outstretched hand— 

If they smash the tempter's cup — 
May raise, awhile, the fallen sot 
And help his wayward feet to stand. 

But self-propping holds him up . 

A healing salve for mangled arm , 

A soothing drug for cramping spell— 

If dispensed with needed speed — 
May the power of pain disarm 
And make the wounded member well . 

But self-care averts the need. 

The wishes breathed , the tears we shed 
For hapless wretches without food — 

If full of milk and honey — 
May furnish leaven for their bread 
And soothe the hungry, famished brood, 

But victuals cost some money. 



118 IF, MAY, AND BUT. 

The pray'rs we utter, day bv day, 
For neighbors bound by error's chain— 

If prayers equal power — 
May break, forsooth, the tyrant's sway 
And place them on their lost domain, 

But deeds confirm their dower. 

Lovers' pouts, a little sporting : 
Sometimes sparring, sometimes cooing — 

If indulged to catch a mate — 
May please suitors while they're courting 
And add keener zest to wooing, 

But they mar the married state. 

Little longs when counting measures 
And little shorts when making change— 

If pursued to compass pelf — 
May increase the tradesman's treasures 
( And honest patrons ' wealth estrange ) , 

But they'll damn the tricky elf. 

The stones concealed in cotton bales. 
The cheat in grain and rot in fruit — 

If they're sold as parcels whole— 
May lengthen out the granger's sales 
(And furnish him a chekered suit) , 

But they'll curse the rascal's soul. 

The gossip's winks that hint at shame 
And poisoned darts that skeptics fling — 

If no other woes ensue — 
May sull> some pure woman's name 
And poison souls with mortal sting, 

But they'll wound the archers , too. 



119 



IF, MAY, AND BUT. 

The many facts which * ' May ' ' obscures . 
The ideas which ''if" makes clear— 

IF an If a thought defines— 
And many truths which ^^But" immures 
MAY not, perchance, to you appear. 

BUT they nestle 'twixt these linea. 

If critics wise my theme despise 
And reduce these lines to smithers, 

With other Mays, Buts and Ifs 
I'll slap the bantlings o'er their eyes, 
Flay their bodies , hams and withers 

And cremate their putrid stiffs. 



ACROSTIC. 



O-n this bright leaf, in language brief, 
L-et me this timely truth disclose : 
L-ife's waning years may end in tears 
I-f youth parades in Folly ' s clothes . 
E-re , then , you wake the lurking snake 
C-oncealed beneath the tempter ' s snare , 
R-esolve to lean, with trust serene, 
O-n Virtue's strength and Heaven's care . 
C-leave unto grace, God's word embrace, 
K-eep step with Hope, your duty do ; 
E-schew self-will — and Jesus will 
R-emove all snares that menace you . 



120 



THANKS FOR A BOUQUET. 



JI OUR bright bouquet, 

Which came to-day, 
Seems to me "a joy forever. ' ' 

Its matchless bloom 

And sweet perfume 
E ' er remind me of the giver. 

If the giving 

And receiving 
E ' er afforded equal pleasure 

To the giver 

And receiver 
You, I ween, have had full measure. 

But >et. Mis£ Lou, 

To you there " s due 
Formal thanks, as yet unrendered , 

Hence they , and more 

A thousand score. 
To you, kind friend, are tendered. 




SAMANTHY SAUERKRAUT. 121 



JVIy frau's a gentle, quiet dame, 
Though she may sometimes pout . 

When people give her the nickname 
Of Mistress Gadabout. 

She's not a child of Hercules- 
She's neither tall nor stout— 

And's rather ' 'crippled in the knees , ' ' 
Is Madam Sauerkraut 

She's somewhat queer at home , I know . 

Has ' ' rheumatiz and gout 
But when her ' 'achings' ' lighter grow 

She's fond of • 'going out. ' ' 

Her parlor's often up -side down 
And kitchen , too , no doubt . 

Whilst she is visiting down town 
With Becky Overstout. 

Her breakfasts may be very late 
Because she's ''never stout;'' 

And frequently my suppers wait 
On Madam Sauerkraut. 

She ' s popular with all her set 

(The Misses Overstout 
And Mesdames Quizz and Betteryet) , 

Is Madam Sauerkraut. 



122 SAMANTHY SAUERKRAUT. 

When she pursues the public way 
(Or some secluded route, ) 

The people all in chorus say : 

* • Good morning , Gadabout I ' ' 

The last twin Pickles have a way 
Of crying when she's ' 'out, ' ' 

Which tempts e 'en me sometimes to say , 
' ' Oh , heartless Gadabout 1 ' ' 

Her face , I own , seems rather wry- 
Looks almost sour as crout. 

When home— but that's no reason why 
My wife's a gadabout. 

Her comings-in I don't approve. 
Much less her goings-out. 

But by her Bible I can prove 
Her name's not Gadabout, 

'Tis writ as plain as plain can be. 

' ' Sa-man-thy Sau -er-kraut ; ' ' 
And , for my life , I cannot see 

How that spells Gadabout . 

If Crout and Pickles mean the same 
(Of which I've little doubt) , 

Then, I affirm, her proper name's 
Samanthy Sauerkraut. 



123 


THE GOBLIN CREW OF SISKIYOU 


V^H. Siskiyou! grim monarcfe old! 

Whe® Sol dispels glum night. 
What joy to watch the mists unfold i 

About thy dizzy height 1 


To note with reverential awe 

The sunbeams . whilst they streak 

With gold the adamantine snow 

That glistens on thy peak. ( 


To see the fleeting shadows creep 
Into thy eyeless shades 

Or, with the glacial currents . *^leap 
Adown thy steep cascades. 


As morning's heralds further go I 

Into the scars and brakes. 
Behold ! the loosened brooklets flow 

Into thy ice-rimmed lakes \ 


Hark! hark! I hear the eagle scream, 
And catch his mate's reply, 

As he forsakes the limpid stream 
And seeks his eyrie high. 


As moments lengthen into hours, 
Behold, upon the breeze, 

The odors of sweet-smelling flowers 
Are wafted through-^ the trees. 



12^ THE GOBLIN CREW OF SISKIYOU. 

The stately, aromatic fir 

Salutes the nodding pines 

And condescending oaks defer 
CJnto coqueting vines . 

The mock- bird's flirting with the wren , 
The cuckoos mate with drakes. 

The night-hawk woos the turkey hen 
And sage-hens pair with crakes. 

Blind owls espouse the razorbills. 

Charmed rooks consort with daws, 

Blue jays unite^with whippoorwills 
And linnets wed macaws. 

Wild geese and pigeons tell their loves 
To fickle laj'ks and quails 

And magpies strut with ravens, doves 
And flirting scissortails. 

From these I turn , gray Siskiyou , 
To scan the crown of snow — 

Forever old, forever new — 
Encircling thy cold brow . 

Tall giant old, thy Indian name, 

These glacial fields and rills 
And steeps and lava beds proclaim 
Thee monarch of the hills. 

No hand of bard or painter yare 
In language can express. 

Or paint a sketch, which will compare 
With thy cold ruggedness . 



THE GOBLIN CREW OF SISKIYOU. 125 

Old Sol again forsakes the steep. 

The woodland minstrels rest 
And shadows, from the gorges, creep 

Around grim Shasta's crest. 

Dejected, now, I sit and think 

Of the departed throng 
Until the stars begin to blink 

The buttes and scars among. 

Then I, dismissing charts and books. 

Quick hasten to a glen 
To contemplate the frenzied spooks 

Of long forgotten men . 

Who nightly haunt these fields of snow 

And , with glittering knife 
And gleaming axe and twanging bow. 

Engage in mimic strife. 

They scramble over lava beds 

Or roam among the pines ; 
Anon uplift their ghostly heads 

Amid the arching vines. 

They madly scurry down the slopes 

With lifted bow and spear, 
As if pursuing antelopes , 

Affrighted bears and deer. 

Then, on and on, o'er valleys wide. 

O'er rivers deep and clear, 
Within a hut the Peak beside, 

They gcalp the mountaineer. 



126 THE GOBLIN CREW OF SISKIYOU. 

And, swift recrossing streams and plain, 
Like messengers of death , 

They overtake a moving train 

And ' • freeze ' ' the tourists ' breath . 

Again the goblin crew espies 

Another cot below, 
And straight proceed to sacrifice 

The sleeping ranchero 

From out dark manzanita shades 
These gnomes again appear 

And. hurrying, with vengeful blades 
Dispatch some pioneer. 

Perceiving, then, John Chinaman, 

Late of Shooang Foo . 
They ' * confiscate his chicomen ' 

And bang his braided queue. 

Descending from the moody shelves 
And summits steep and cold. 

They hasten where the miner delves 
In crevices, for gold. 

Encircling then the peaks, which rise 
Far, far above Mount Hood. 

They dart into the star-gemmed skies , 
Or dive neath Klamath ' s flood . 



127 



SOME KIND WISHES RECIPROCATED. 



To the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren 

of Lee Lodge. No. 435, A. F. & A. Masons: 

Your Committee , appointed at a Stated meeting, held 

in Lodge Room, at Rheas' Mills, Collin County, Texas, 

December 22, 1888, most respectfully beg leave to report, 

as follows — to wit : 

1 . Resolved , That it is with unfeigned sorrow and 
regret that we part with our worthy Brother Secretary, 
Dr. W. F. Rubottom, who has moved, with his family, 
from our midst, and from fraternal associations with us, 
to seek a home in one of the western counties of Texas. 

2. Resolved. That, by punctuality, faithfulness and 
fidelity in the discharge of the duties of secretary of the 
Lodge, for the past ten years , and by his ever-ready and 
fraternal counsel , he has endeared himself to the officers 
and members of the Lodge. 

3. Resolved, That, as a slight testimonial of our 
appreciation and fraternal regard , the Lodge presents him 
with the Gold Pen and Holder with which he has kept the 
records of the Lodge for several years ; and, that the Sec- 
retary be instructed to forward the same to Brother 
Rubottom, at Abilene, Texas. 

4. Resolved, That we commend Brother Rubottom 
to the fraternal regard of Masons wherever his lot be cast ; 
that these resolutions be recorded in the minutes of the 



I 128 SOME KIND WISHES RECIPROCATED, 



Lodgf and that the secretary be instructed to forward a 
certified copy of the same to Brother Rubottom . 
Fraternally and Respectfully submitted. 
James C. Rhea, ^ 
John F. Wilson, I Committee. 
Thomas McNeil, j 
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a cor- 
rect transcript from the minutes of Lee 
r — — , ^ Lodge , No. 435 , A . F . & A . Masons , of proceed - 
■I seal. ings had at stated meeting, held in Lodge - 
I — — J room, at Rheas' Mill, Collin County, Texas, 
Feb. 16, 1889. A. L. 5,889. 

James C Rhea, as Secretary. 



B, 



'ROTHERS : I acknowledge greetings tendered 
And accept, with thanks, your token, 
But ' ' Committee ' s ' ' praise of service rendered 
Had far better ne'er been spoken. 



If anj'thing I've wrought, with brain or ''Pen 
Has enhanced the Temple's beauty, 

'Tiswell — Im paid — so mote it be. Amen. 
To me it was a pleasing duty . 



If, in the course of ages, j^et to come, 

Some savant should your records scan 

And find, inscribed within the musty tome, 
True etchings of the Builder's plan. 



SOME KIND WISHES RECIPROCATED. 121J 

'Twill be to me, indeed, a rich reward, 

Richer far than golden treasure. 
To realize that I, your scribe and bard. 

Pleased my ' 'Fellows' ' in small measure. 

And. Brothers mine, I am rejoiced to learn — 
Though nothing's done exactly true— 

That j'ou do not condemn, reject n^jr spurn 
The w^ork which I essayed to do. 

Since we have come unto the ' 'parting way, ' ' 

And now are drifting wide apart. 
I pray that golden dreams of yesterday 

May gladden every Brother's heart. 

' Tis very sweet for one to fraternize 

With friends where'er he goes or stays, 

But sweeter still it is to realize 

The love of those of othev days. 

To know that wheresoer his lot be cast, 

In sunny climes or regions drear, 
Old friends who loved him best, in days long past. 

Still have for him a smile-or tear. 

' Pen' ' is reclining in its plush-lined case, 
Encircled by ''Committee's'' scroll. 

And it shall occupy this cosy place 
Until Gabriel calls the roll , 

And bids me join the multitude which stands 

Before the amethystine throne, 
Whence the ' -Most Worshipful" ' with open hands 

Bestows rewards for labor done 



130 SOME KIND WISHES RECIPROCATED. 

For you my daily orisons ascend 

To the Grand Architect above 
Imploring Him, the faithful Craftsman's friend , 

To keep you all in peace and love. 

And, when the Temple ■ s built, our labors o'er. 
Our plans and working-tools laid by , 

May the Grand Usher pass us through the door 
Of the Celestial Lodge on high . 

And, haply, if we gain the "Senior's'' grace 

And are presented at th€ East, 
May each one find to him assigned a place 

Around the board at ' 'Junior's Feast. ' ' 




"IF I WERE YOU." 131 



\ The followiag lines are most respect- 
fully dedicated to Miss Mollie Ethijle 
Elizabeth Hurt, of Baffalo Gap, Texas, 
by her friend, THE AUTHOR . ] 



I 



.F I were you, 

Louisa Chew, 
And had one -half your shekels 

I ' d give them all 

To Doctor Hall 
If he would cure my freckles. 

There's sweet Sue Payne 

And Lizzie Lane 
And handsome Lucy Spreckles, 

Who went last fall 

To Doctor Hall 
To have him treat their freckles. 

There's Tilda Ware, 

So charming, fair, 
And cheeks as red as roses , 

Owes all her charms 

Of face and arms 
To Doctors Hall and Moses. 

There's Ivy Chace, 

Whose peachy face 
Was covered o ' er with pimples 

Till Doctor Hall 

Arrived last fall 
And painted them with dimples. 



132 "IF 1 WERE YOU. " 

I cannot guess 

Why you will dress 
In styles so plain and shady 

When you might shine 

In robes divine 
And be a queenly lady. 

If I were fair 

And debonair 
Ne'er would I prate of duty . 

Id ' ' cut a dash 

And make my cash 
A vassal to my beauty. 

I tell you , Lou , • 

If I were you, 
And a multi millionaire, 
I'd court the wiles 
Of Paris styles 
And make the gaping dudies stare. 

My bloated purse 
My pride should nuree 

And fill my plaques with treasures, 
And everything 
That wealth coald bring 

Should cater to my pleasures. 

Should Cottonrows, 

Some day. propose 
To lead me to the altar 

Id tell him, "No; 

T ' d rather go 
Into old Goldman's halter. ' ' 



"IF I WERE YOU." 133 

Should Banker Fair, 

The millionaire, 
Propose to make me happy 

I ' d say , ' ' Kind sir, 

I must refer 
You to my doting papa. ' ' 

But, Lou, I guess 

I must confess, 
You bewitching little elf, 

If I ^ were you 

I'd likely do 
Just such things as suit myself . 

I ' ve tried your gold 

By methods old 
And pronounced it counterfeit. 

Because its tone 

Did not mine own 
Precarious standards fit. 

Just what r d do 

If I were you 
Is becoming plain to me ; 

And, from your past. 

You may forecast 
What an angel I would be . 

So now, dear Lou, 

I will eschew 
My former declarations, 

For yon and I 

Need never try 
To fill each other's stations. 



134 "IF 1 WERE YOU." 

I " d not disgrace 

My comely face 
By essaying rouge and pastes, 

And would detest 

The graceless guest 
Who dared criticise my tastes. 

Should Cottonrows , 

Indeed, propose 
(Because 'twould please my papa,) 

I would consent, 

Soon after lent. 
To make him rich and happy. 




135 
WHAT THEY THINK OR SAY. 



J-F children could 
Be alwaA's good, 
At home, at school, at play, 
What do you guess the people would 
Most likely think or say? 

If you're polite 
And act upright 
In everything j'ou do , 
What do you guess the angels bright 
Would say or think of you? 

If you should yearn 
' 'The ropes to learn. ' ' 
And into dangers sink. 
What would wise people, in their turn 
Most likely say or think? 

'Tis hard to guess, 
I must confess,— 
So try it, you who may, 
If 3'ou have language to express 

What each would think or say, — 

And I 11 indite 
This saying trite : 
' 'Each one must swim or sink — 
Each occupy his place' '-in spite 
Of ' what they say or think. ' ' 



136 WHAT THEY THINK OR SAY. 

Give ear , I pray , 
To what I say : 
Don ' t go too near the brink , 
For character oft slips away 

Before ''they'' speak or think. 

The bad eschew, 

The good pursue, 
Avoid sin ' s tempting brink ; 
Its pits, perchance, may swallow you 
Before ' ' they say or think . ' ' 

Should you and I 
Forever try 
To do our best , we may 
Perchance outlive the truth , or lie , 
That they may • 'think or say. ' ' 




137 
BUENA VISTA. 

A MEMORY OF FIFTY YEARS AGO. 



i\w AKE ! Away ! ' ' 
The bugles bray — 

Their accents weird, uncanny— 
' ' With trumpets ' peal 
And gleaming steel 

To welcome Santa Ana 

The sleepers wake ; 

The plateaus quake, 
And break Lopez' siesta. 

When they leave camp 

And westward tramp 
O'er startled Buena Vista. 

Our cannons roar, 

Our eagles soar, 
Our cavalry's advancing; 

Our sabers flash. 

Our muskets crash 
And aides de camp are prancing. 

Upon our left, 

Beside a clefr, 
We station Indiana 

To check, perchance. 

The first advance 
Of boastful Santa Ana. 



138 BUENA VISTA. 

Upon onr right. 

Hard by a height, 
*' Old Kentucky ' ' does deploy. 

To hold the mass 

That threats The Pass, 
And his skirmishers employ. 

O'Brien's rain 

Of shot and chain 
Pours death and consternation 

Upon both flanks 

And center ranks, 
And drives them from each station. 

Fierce Washington's 

Death-shotted guns 
Make steeps and ravines tremble 

As they hurl shell 

And lurid hell 
Wherever foes assemble . 

Now Captain Bragg 

Unfurls^is flag 
And ' Rough and Ready' ' answers, 

' 'Please feed those apes 

More iron grapes ' ' — 
Referring to the lancers. 

• -Retreat' ' then slips 

From coward lips 
And bleeding Indiana, 

Our forlorn hope , 

Ascends the slope 
Pursued by Santa Ana. 



BUENA VISTA. 139 



Young Illinois 

Parades hei boys 
And hurries on , though bleeding. 

Until they reach 

The gory breach 
From whence our vans receding. 

Kentucky brave. 

Her flag a- wave, 
And to the left debouching, 

Quick hastes along 

The clefts among 
To where the foeman's crouching. 

They pierce his ranks. 

Chastise his flanks 
With musketry and mortar ; 

Then with cold steel 

His vitals feel 
Until he sues for quarter. 

Now, once again, 

'Neath leaden rain 
Sore, bleeding Indiana 

Draws in her flanks 

And, closing ranks, 
* Right flanks" to yon savanna. 

Though wounded sore 
She stands once more, 
Unterrified by trifles. 

And forms a ' ' V " 
Of musketry 
With Mississippi ' s " Rifles . ' ' 



140 BUENA VISTA. 

Though choked with ire 

'^I'hey ho Id their fire , 
As swift the foe advances, 

Nor reel nor rock 

Beneath the shock 
Of infantry and lances 

With bayonet 

And trigger set 
These brave undaunted yeomen , 

Mid leaden gusts 

And lancers' thrusts, 
Hurl back their cruel f oemen . 

Arkansans mount. 

Their sabers count-^ 
Upon the plateau gory — 

And ride away 

With Yell and May 
' 'To do or die for glory. ' ' 

* mini now 

With furrowed brow, 

Her battle-cry is dinning 
As she again 
Speeds o'er the plain 

To make her final inning. 

Kentucky, too. 

With marksmen true — 

Their courage still unbending- 
Displays her flag 
In yonder sag. 

Where death with hell's contending. 

* Indian name for Illinois. 



BUENA VISTA. 1^1 



Now screeching shell 

And shotted hell 
The struggling ranks are plying 

And Mends and foes. 

In heaped-up rows. 
Upon the field are dying. 

The bugle sounds, 

''Retreat' resounds — 
The steeps its notes repeating — 

And Mexicans 

In shattered clans 
Far o'er the plains are fleeting. 

Oh , cruel day ! 

Oh, bloody fray! 
What awful sights revealing! 

May friendly night 

Hide from my sight 
Your scenes, so blood-congealing. 

Yon dark ravine , 

The vales between. 
Holds fast within its keeping 

A thousand men 

With sightless ken 
And pulseless forms, now sleeping. 

Their features dark. 

Their bodies stark— 
Their souls perchance unshriven— 

Their blood- marked eyes. 

Turned to the skies. 
Seem pleading unto Heaven. 



142 BUENA VISTA. 

'Mid shadows deep 
Our bravest sleep — 

Of glory never dreaming— 
But o'er each grave 
Shall laurels wave 

Their petals bright and gleaming. 

No bard nor scribe 

Ma J e'er describe 
The horors of the dying, 

Nor artist paint, 

In colors faint. 
The demons round them vieing 

McKey and Clav 

May nt'er essay 
To sketch the conflict gory. 

Nor gallant Yell 

And Hardin tell 
The horrifying story. 

But afterwhile 

When peace shall smile. 
And we adjust this quarrel, 

About each name 

Immortal Fame 
Shall twine a wreath of laurel 



143 
ALPHABET OF MAXIMS 



A 



N adder s fang may leave a sore, 
B-nt gossip's tongues afflict us more. 

G-ruel gibes, which scoffers render, 
D-o oft return to wound the sender. 

E-nvy not your thrifty neighbor ; 
F-ortune weaves her crowns for labor, 

G-raves emit a sulphurous smell , 
H-ence men affirm, '"the grave is hell. ' ' 

1-f you would make the asp your friend 
J-ump not upon his ' 'bus'ness end. ' ' 

K eep strictest guard upon your lip, 
L est it, alas! may sometimes slip. 

M eet slander with an open eye, 
Nor quail before a smoothe faced lie. 

O - utlive your foes , by acting well ; 
P-ure actions do clean motives tell. 

Q - uaker guns may hint at dangers . 
R oaring asses frighten strangers. 

5 uspend thy judgment ere it burns 

T hy neighbor and thyself, by turns. 

U nsound notes make bankers weary , 
V-eal on toast keeps debtors cheery. 

Whoever sails too swiftly, may 
X pect his boat to sink some day. 

Y - easty speech betrays the tyro ; 
Z-eal. alone, neer made a hero 

6 never will, all wise men know. 



144 

WHY AND BECAUSE. 



O, why, Prohibs, why 
Are you looking so glum? 

* 'Because, ' ' they reply. 
' ' We've been beaten by rum. 



O. why, Antis, why 
Are you feeling so glad? 

' 'Because, ' ' they reply, 
' 'We have worsted you bad. " ' 

O, why, mothers, why 
Are you weeping to day? 

, ' ' Because , ' ' they all ciy , 
■ 'Rum leads voters astray. " 

O, why, drunkards, pray. 
Are j^ou tippling to-night? 

' 'Because, ' ' they all say, 
' 'Your laws say it is right. ' ' 

O, why, hungry tot, 
Don ' t you fatten and grow ? 

''Because pa's a sot, 
And your votes made him so. ' ' 

O, why, convicts, tell! 
Are you wearing those chains? 

' 'Because of the hell 
Which the public maintains. ' ' 



145 



THE PRINTER'S APPEAL. 



D> 



ELINQUENT susbscribers , 
This hint is for you : 
We need every nickel 
That's justly our due. 

A few would-be statesmen — 
We say this with tears- 
Have surely forgotten 

That they're in arrears. 

Some other delinquents— 

We won't specify — 
Imagine that printers 

Grow fat upon ' ' pi . " ' 

From begiining. till now, 
Each week and each day . 

We have faithfully worked, 
Expecting our p ay . 

From dawning till gloaming 
Wev'e labored and grinned 

Forever subsisting 

On ' 'taffy and wind. " 

With levery condition 

Implied in our ''bond'' 

THE WHANGDOODLE'S striven, 
Each week, to respond. 



146 THE PRINTER'S APPEAL. 

We've earnestly wrestled 
With ' roller and stick' ' 

Till courage, forbearance 

And hope have grown sick. 

We've patiently waited 
From day unto day 

Till patience , exhausted , 
Constrains us to say : 

Since our wallet is empty , 
Our trousers grown thin , 

Let every delinquent 

' 'Come down with the tin. ' ' 



>^>^ 




14] 
THE WOMAN GAVE AND I DID EAT. 



[ These lines are res2)ectfvJlt/ dedicated to 

our dear young friend, Miss Dodie Alice 

Cowsert, poetess of Phantom HiU, Texas. 

THE AUTHOR] 



J EHOVAH made the earth and sky 
And hollowed out the seas , 

Piled frowning mountain peaks on high 
And fashioned herbs and trees. 

He made the bird with soaring wing. 

The fishes of the main, 
And fitly finished everything 

That moves upon the plain. 

He spoke the heavens into birth. 
Assigned the sun his place , 

Transplanted stars above the earth 
And hung the moon in space. 

He circumscribed the zones and spheres, 

Divided day and night, 
Prescribed the bounds of season^ , years , 

And clothed the world in light. 

He set the forests wide and green 

Beside the rivers fair 
And, planting vales the hills between. 

He made a garden there. 



148 THE WOMAN GAVE AND I DID EAT. 

Then, in fulfillment of Hid plan. 

He, from the va lley's dust, 
Created something known as ' ' Man 

And called it ' Good' ' and just. 

And afterwhile. when this gammon 

Bemoaned his lonely life, 
God , in pity , made fair woman 

And she became his wife. 

He gave the twain (thereafter one) 
All creatures , mild or grim , 

The trees and all their fruits— save one— 
And that they stole from Him. 

When asked about the missing fruit 
Next morning— on the street — 

' 'The woman gave," replied the brute . 
•'And, therefore. I did eat." 

(It seems that this dissembling brute, 

In his attempt to hedge , 
Declined to say : ' ' The stolen fruit 

Has set my teeth on edge. ") 

And now, when caught, like>dam. we 

Quite often deem it meet 
To say: "The woman gave it me 

And, there fore, I did eat," 

Whenever Doctor says to me, 

"You've swallowed bittersweet," 

I say : "The woman gave it me 
And, therefore, I did eat." 



THE WOMEN GAVE AND I DID EAT. 149 

Some gouty bum of lordly line, 

Who's drunk on wine, or stout. 
Declares, "The woman brewed the wine, 

Wherefore. this horrid gout. ' ' 

Diseased or well, enslaved or free, 

Their diet sour or sweet, 
Men say: -^The woman gave it me 

And, therefore, I did eat. " 

The millionaires , mid luxury, 

The beggars, on the street, 
All say: ''The woman gave it me 

And, therefore, I did eat. ' ' 

The hero, coward, saint and knave. 

The foolish and discreet 
Alike declare: "The woman gave 

And, therefore, I did eat. ' ' 




150 



THE BUSY SUNBEAMS. 



O WIFT riding on their steeds of light 
Ere dimpled Twilight's born, 

They trample down the bars of Night 
And usher in young Morn. 

Saluting then fair, blushing dawn, 
Embracing manse and halls, 

They linger on the dew- wet lawn 
And climb the garden walls. 

They minister at rose's birth. 

Embellish spire and dome. 
Beautify the heavens and earth 

And burnish every home. 

They st reak the apple and the peach 
And color pears and prunes. 

Perambulate the shell -strewn beach 
And stalk among sand dunes. 

They nestle in the flowret ' s cells 
And dally with the vines, 

Bedeck the pinks and asphodels 
And kiss the bearded pines. 

They wand ^r down the tree-gi "t lane 
And glint among the leaves , 

Commingle with the growing grain 
And tinge the gathered sheaves. 



THE BUSY SUNBEAMS. 



151 



Then, flashing over steepled fane 

And turrets old and gray, 
They stride along the fresh -mown plain 

And dry the tedded hay. 

Proceeding through the forest's gloom, 

Sweet smiling as they go. 
They deftly paint the hawthorn's bloom 

With their own healthful glow. 

They tint the rainbow, in the WQst. 
With azure, green and gold. 
Recline upon the mountain's breast 
And scale its summits bold . 

They stroll into the busy mart 

And peer through dungeon doors , 

Irradiate the halls of art 

And polish palace floors. 

They greet the plowman, at his task, 

Enliven weary tramps , 
Inspire the student, at his desk. 

And brighten soldiers ' camps . 

They wander to the distant poles. 

All hemispheres survey , 
They rally round the fog-draped shoals 

And chase the mists away . 



They play amid the sedgy fens . 

Dance with the laughing rills , 
Explore the eyeless brakes and glens 

And wanton on the hills. 



152 THE BUSY SUNBEAMS. 

With filmy threads they paint the cheeks 
Of moors and brambly brakes, 

They waltz upon the dimpled creeks 
And loiter on the lakes. 

Dispersing shadows from the hedge . 

They set the world aglow 
And, crossing o'er its nether edge, 

Descend to depths below. 

They peek into the mermaid's graves, 
Beneath the billows glide. 

Then slumber in old Neptune ' s caves 
Until next morningtide. 



m 



153 



YOU'RE WELCOME HERE TO DAY 



O 



UR joyful hearts breathe forth in song- 
The organ swells the lay — 
And happy bells the strains prolong : 
Yon re welcome here to-day ; 

Welcome, welcome, welcome! 

You ' re welcome here to - day ; 

Kind friends, you're welcome here. 

Thrice welcome here to day. 



You're welcome here , these walls proclaim, 

Y"ou ' re welcome here to day ! 
You ' re welcome here I these desks exclaim , 
You're welcome here to-day; 

Welcome, welcome, welcome! 
You ' re welcome here to day , 
Kind friends, you're welcome here, 
Thrice welcome here to ■ day . 

You're welcome here! our homes exclaim , 

Kind friends , accept our cheer ; 
Our lips respond with glad acclaim : 
You re welcome here to day ! 

Welcome, welcome, welcome! 
You ' re welcome here to day ! 
Kind friends , you ' re welcome here , 
Thrice welcome here to-day. 



154 

YOUTH, MANHOOD AND AGE. 



jLn childhood's days, 

With wistful gaze, 
We covet man's estate. 

Nor dream that boon 

Will come quite soon 
Should we but patient wait. 

At life's high twelve 

We constant delve 
To compass wealth and fame, 

Forgetting the y 

May fade away 
Quick as the rocket's flame. 

Then, at life's eve, 

We sit and grieve 
O'er childhood's hours, misspent. 

And ponder o'er 

The burdens sore 
'Neath which strong manhood bent. 

Our men^'al eyes 

Scarce realize 
The force which draws us hence . 

Nor comprehend 

The hast'ning end 
Of human life and sense. 



YOUTH, MANHOOD AND AGE. 155 

Upon the face 

Of age we trace 
This olt -repeated tale : 

First, youth ascf^nrls, 

Then manhood bends 
Till age sleeps in the vale. 

Our journey closed , 

Our limbs composed, 
We ' 11 sleep within the tomb 

Until, at last. 

The trumpet's blast 
Proclaims the crack of doom. 




156 



WHEN WE GO HOME TO-MORROW. 



X 



FESE college walls to us so dear, 
Perchnnce some gloom may borro w 
These desks conceal a truant tear 
When we go home to-morrow. 



Our hungry minds may bid us stay 
Some other lights to borrow, 

But duty bids us haste away 

To meet the world to-morrow. 



Our teachers may some pride reveal 
And we some laurels borrow ; 

Some partial friends may prouder feel 
When we go home to morrow. 



Our brothers' tasks may lighter seem, 
Our parents feel less sorrow , 

And sisters ' eyes with pleasure beam 
When we go home to-morrow. 

Our Alma Mater's cherished name 
May added luster borrow. 

And we reflect its well earned fame 
Upon the world to-morrow. 



WHEN WE GO HOME TO-MORROW. 157 



Then let ' s record this vow to ■ night : 
Despite its toil and sorrow, 

We'll J3ry to make the world seem bright 
When we go home to-morrow. 

The State may , then , partake our cheer. 
The Church new courage borrow, 

If we but make life's problems clear 
When we go home to-morrow. 




158 MY BONNY SHIP. 



Oi 



H, comrades, see yon bonny craft '. 
Impelled by friendly breeze, 
And canvas swelling fore and aft , * 
Undaunted plows the seas ! 

Fidelity her deck commands. 

Truth ' s on her larboard side , 

Upon her starboard Prudence stands , 
Strength is her masts beside 

Sweet Charity is at the fore 

And Honor stands abaft, 
Munificence her larders store 

And Wisdom rules the craft 

Sobriety controls her berths, 

And Fervency her keel ; 
Coh sion fortifies her girths 

And Courage holds the wheel. 

Contentment does her mess-rooms fill, 

Faith manages each rope , 
Her manifest is writ by Skill, 

Her anchor's manned by Hope. 

With Zeal and Faith at shroud and rope. 
Well guarded at each side, 

Her anchor wisely manned by Hope, 
She bravely breasts the tide. 

Her captain's wise, her watchmen, too, 

Her sailors seldom trip , 
So, let's aboard and help the crew 

To sail this bonny ship. 



159 
TEXAS MUD. 



JL^K 



poets praise old Opliir,s mines 
And Afric's golden sands, 
Extol the flavor of the ^ines 
Of this and other lands ; 

Bnt their bright gold and diamonds rare 
And wines, though thick as blood, 

In richness never can compare 
With our black-waxey mud. 

Oh. vaunt no more the eider down, 
On which fair queens recline , 

Nor praise the velvet of the lawn 
Where elfin footsteps twine 

For I'm convinced — from trials oft— 
That nothing's quite as good. 

Nor ever can be half as soft 
As waxey Texas mud. 

Praise not that female's constancy, 
Whose mother love sublime 

Condones her offspring's perfidy. 
Ingratitude and crime ; 

For nothing graven on the brain 
Or mingled with the blood , 

Nor steadfast love, nor guilty stain 
Can ' 'stick' ' like Texas mud. 



160 TEXAS MUD. 

Please boast no more of Egypt's corn, 

Or perfume -laden isles, 
Where Ceres empties out her horn 

Or Flora sweetest smiles. 
For their wide, overflowing fields 

Contain no tree, nor bud, 
Norplant, nor fruiting vine, which yields 

A crop like Texas mud. 

Don't worry over locust swarms. 

The icy blizzard's splurge. 
Nor pesky droughts and gravel storms 

And pestilential scourge — 
Which, haply, seldom overtake 

Us — for the cyclone ' s thud • 
And blizzard's swish can never make 

Us squirm like Texas mud. 




161 



TRLTST IN" GOD AND HEW AWAY. 



V V HEN thy prospects look the darkest 

Don ■ t believe what croakers say , 
If you'd have your prospects brighten 
Trust in God and hew away. 

If your wallet "s nearly ^mpty— 
Many bills and notes to pa)'— 

Get up early, push your bus'ness. 
Trust in God and hew away. 

Should your enemies grow thicker. 

Frien:ls and relatives betray. 
Keep the moisture from your powder. 

Trust in God and fire away. 

Should tornadoes rage and bluster. 
Zigzag lightning round you play. 

Be not frightened — be a hero — 
Trust in God and hew away. 

And should envy's poisoned arrows 
Wound you, for a single day. 

Gird vour loins with truth and virtue, 
Trust in God and hew away. 

Never weary, never falter. 

Ponder well what you essay. 
Lift the cleaver, swing the broadaxe. 

Trust in God and hew away. 



162 TRUST IN GOD AND HEW AWAY. 

Then the people, when you're parsing, 
Will to one another say r 

• 'Yonder honest, bright-faced fellow 
Trusts in God and hews his way. 

Ever bright and ever cheery- — 

Meet him whensoeer you inay— 

Loves his country , pays his taxes . 
Trusts in God and hews away. 

Neither borrows cash nor trouble. 
Hence he has no debts to pay : 

Lives inside his daily income. 

Trusts in God and hews his way. 

Does some helpless friend or stranger 
Ever for assistance pray. 

Lifting them, he says, 'Have courage. 
Trust in God and hew 3'our way . ' 

Should the widow and the orphan 
At his feet their sorrows lay. 

Raising them, he kindly counsels, 

■ Trust in God and go your way . ' ' ' 

Those who would be rich an d happy 

Must these simple rules obey : 
Shun no task, neglect no duty. 
Trust in God and hew away. 

Set examples for your neighbors- 
Make and save whate'er you may- 
Ne'er cease work, though others loiter, 
Trust in God and hew away. 



TRUST IN GOD AND HEW AWAY. 163 

Then, perchance, some halting brother, 

Catching Faith ' s inspiring ray . 
May equip himself for battle, 

Trust in God and hew his way . 

Seek ye honor? high position? 

Bravely struggle day by day 
And — expecting Hope's fruition- - 

Trust in God and hew away. 



^^^ 



164 



A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT, 



ff HILE reviewing the incidents of a lifetime, now waning. 

And comparing the manners, idioms and fashions of yore 
W th the fads, fancies, customs, the scientific inventions, 

Refined ethics and polite literature, now at the fore. 

My bnsy fancy recalled a period, when • 'neighborhood 
Shucking parties, log-rollings and coon-hunts' ' were in 
their full prime, 

A quarter section of • ' Hoozierbait ' sold for a penny 
And a jug of cider ' with a stick in it" cost a half-dime, 

Fat thanksgiving turkeys cost only the penning and catchiiuj 
An abundance of honey was obtained by coursing the bees. 

Red apples , melons , berries and peaches cost but the asking 
And sugar and molasses were obtained by tapping the trees 

A pound of ginseng paid for a Barlow knife and a Jewsharp , 
A summer coonskin was the price of a gallon of --old rye. 

A barrel of corn was an equivalent for half-soliug your boots. 
And the profits accruing to farmers were "all in the eye. ' 

Daily newpapers were exceedingly ' ■ few and far between. 
The fine arts and polite literature were almost unknown. 

Railroads, telegraphs and bicycles were merely vagaries 
And nobody dreamed of the electric light or telephone . 

•*Hog and hominy" meant abundance of everyday comforts, 
And prodigal living was indulged in by ••the trash;' ' 

Buckskin and linsey woolsey suits decorated the gentry 
And cooperstuff, et cetera went current as cash. 



A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT. 165 

Mothers and sisters manufactured their everj'^day dresses, 
Reserving their bright calicos for holiday wear ; 

Our big- fisted progenitors rove barrel staves, cut hoooppoles. 
And "sledded' 'them to market with a frecklefaced mare. 

Broiled venison steaks and juicy cutlets graced every table, 
And johnnycakes were plentiful as picnics in May ; 

And big apetizing blackberrj^ cobblers- oh how luscious— 
And what biscuits they fashioned in an old wooden tray ! 

Delicious gingercakes, what wonderful marvels of beauty 
And sweetness, embellished dressers and pantries, you bet! 

And rich pumpkin pies and tarts, crullers and buns and 
light muffins — 
Ye gods! what a sight for a boy — my mouth waters yet, 

As awakened recollection wanders back to auld lang syne. 
When doting grandmas, mothers and sisters and aunties 

Found infinite pleasure in feasting the little Hoozieroons 
On old-fashioned "goodies" and child-bewitching dainties 

Residences and hotels were builded of logs and clapboards 
And fireplaces were made of rawhides, mortar and sticks ; 

Apartments were />/':/c^.s' for cooking and eating and sleeping 
And halJs were used for storing guns and *' similar tricks." 

We|' "journeyed to the land office by way of Foot & Walker," 
And our meeting-houses were minus upholstered pews ; 

People often'went twenty miles to shop, store and postoffice 
For groceries, blacksmithing, ammunition and news. 

Most of our naval conflicts occurred on rivers and bciyous. 
Our fleets consisting of flatboats and coasting bateaux ; 

And, by the way, boating meant sculling a dugout or poling 
A raft, and ijachtimj was eclipsed by feats of canoes. 



166 A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT. 

Our schoolhouses were located at cross-roads or four-corners 
And frizzy-headed children came from far and from near : 

Master Birchie's mandates were reinforced by a hickory. 
Inspiring every pupil with the wisdom of fear. 

Taking life by shooting or stabbing was punished as muiuJo-; 

He who bought goods under false pretenses was a rogup ; 
• 'Misappropriating revenues' ' was reckoned as stealing 

And n-onl-cd horse dealers earned a' 'free ride on a log. ' ' 

Corners on gunpowder and salt met with stern retribution. 

VoJnntarg bnnkrnptcy placed a man ' 'on the shelf : ' ' 
Pooling and stock jobbing were counted as robbery 

And bucket shop transactions were then rated as jx^/f. 

Our feet paraded in stockings instead of hose and half-hose ; 

Mittens, like doubtful oomplinients. adorned jilted beaux; 
Gallnses and black locust thorns supported bashful trousers 

\nd tidu fi.i'-ups were ' 'Sunday-go- to-meetng clothes. 

Pin-pointed shoes never afflicted our parents with bunions . 

Gantlets and bangs were institutions of • noble Lo ; ' " 
True manhood was a sure passport to genteel society 

And modesty and good manners made feminininity ""go. " 

Men walked erect — as they had been created b}' Deity — 
And the swell-mobs of society hadn " t been born ; 

Boys didn't sleep until the tires were all made in the morning 
Nor servants sleep until the toot of the breakfast horn. 

Ovens, skillets and fryingpans were our cooking utensils . 

And half-rooked meals never hart our stomach and liver : 
The girls assisted their mothers in the laundry and kitchen 

And Biddies were scarce as sunstrokes on Yukon River. 



A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT. 167 

Single ""Hflies spent little time in ' receiving and calling.' ' 
But. like girlsof to day. entertained their • -best fellers" 

And, eventually when tightly bound by wedlock s fetters. 
Did their tmiriixj in bedrooms and kitchens and cellars. 

Ambitious mothers didn't barter marriagable daughters 
To pedigreed snobs- distasteful to imps of the street— 

For European castles and long strings of doubtful titles. 
Like we dispose of corn, thoroughbred cattle and wheat. 

Hotels and ways'des inns were very few and far apart — 
But of homely hospitality there wa^ no dearth — 

The travel-iaded stee<l found fodder and corn in abundance 
And hi> master found a welcome at Mine hostie's hearth. 

( Jur latchstring hung out as a token of welcome to pilgrims 
And bilb for entertainment were paid '-at the hatter's ;" 

And the topics discussed related to Indian forays. 
Pi ices of land, pelfry. and other kindied matters, 

Ere that cr mmission of lop-sided statesmen 

Had been dreamed of or the Kelloggs, of dubious ways. 

And thePinkstons and Bradleys thwarted American voters. 
And gave Samuel Tilden's seat to Rutherford Hayes. 

We w^ent to the polls to electioneer for men and measures — 
And voting was considered a patriot's duty — 

A man's integrity determined his fitness for office, 

And trusts were bestowed without a thought of the booty . 

Election boards were supposed to act as agents for voters 
And make returns — untainted by intentional flaw — 

To honest tribunals, empowered to act in such cases. 
Who published the results in .strict accordance with law. 



138 A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT. 

Oar Signal Service stations were managed by the Indians 
And subteranean railroads had never been planned ; 

Junketing parties at Yellowstone Park were as uncommon 
As are Fourth of July orations in Wrangle Land. 

Ere Bartholdis Liberty Shaft enlightened the Universe, 
Or the Washington Monument had- 'come here to stay ;" 

Plain woodden slabs protected our brightest, noblest and 
bravest 
And patriotism ' 'bubbled' ' on Freedom's natal day. 

The love of integrity and justice inspired men's actions — 
Scarce making an effort to acquire riches and fame — 

Each citizen labored for the weal (5f mankind and, dying, 
Needed no monument to commemorate his name. 

We never spread our dinners, but somebody "set the tables" 
And • 'cleaned-up dishes/ 'instead of removing the cloth. 

Barbecued opossum was common as sun-grins in August 
And soup found a substitute in ' 'pot-liquor or broth. 

Ablutions were rare, but we ' 'washed our faces'" every 
morijiug 
And ' 'combing' ' was as recherche as dressing the hair. 
Lasses didn't dress for a party, but ''put on their finery' ' 
And, although they ' drew the boys on, '' coquetting 
was rare. 

Our materia inedica consisted (»f ' 'barks and sticks;' ' 
Our ailments were 'aigur, worms, fits, rheumatiz and 
tizzick ; ' ' 
' 'Doctoring was done ' by our mothers and the neighbor 
women , 
For they didn t ' give calomy like Doctor Physic. ' ' 



A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT. 169 



Sportsmen were called • 'hunters from away back in old 
Kaintucky ' ' 
And "'shining'' deer furnished spoi"t from November 
till June. 
Rifle pra'^tice consisted in shooting for beef and turke}^ — 
At "three chances for a dime ' " —by the light of the moon 

Ere Blaine cast an anchor to windward. ' ' or wrote, ' 'My 
dear Fisher, ' ' 

Or Butler's cohorts insulted Dixie's fair lasses, 
Or Barnum won the title : "Prince of American Humbugs 

Or Garfield drove canal mules thi'ough Ohio ' 'passes. ' ' 

Ere greedy avarice whetted Jay Gould's financial talents 
Or anvil sparks illumined Elihu Burrett's brain 

Or Johnson, Stanton and Holt murdered innocent Surratt, 
Or Lincoln, bv the hands of an assassin, was slain. 



When Siskiyou's Peak, in its primeval grandeur, stood 
alone 

'Mid golden streams- unsullied by the prospector's pan— 
And Yosemite Valley, 'mid scenes of weird sublimity 

And deep silence, heard not the steps of civilized man. 



Laundries. /v.^•frr/^/v/H^s• and tailor-shops had little patronage, 
For our mothers ••got our dinners, made and washed all 
our duds. ' ' 

Our sisters and female cousins were rarely en dishabiUe, 
But, upon wash-days, were ' 'up to the elbows in suds. ' 



170 A GOSSIPING RETROPECT. 



Bringing whs " fetching,'" parsni])s wpie- 'pasneps," on- 
ions were 'ingyons," 
Milking was "pailing' ' and carry was expressed in'-tote;" 
Calicos, ginghams, bombazines and poplins were ' 'store- 
goods, ' ' 
Candles were ' 'dips' ' and ' 'biied fnstard' looked very 
like float. 

Steam threshing and harvesting machines wpre yet in embryo 
But sickles and flails were in the midst of their glory : 

Sewing machines and motor wagons were not in the market 
And sozodont was nnheard of in song or story. 

Patent rollers hadn.t taken the place of ancient millstones, 
Nor spectaclps usurped the functions of ' 'eye-glasses : " ' 

Oleomargerine didn't compete with gilt-edged butter 
And leather and whiskey weren't made by nev j>r(>cfss('s. 

Before Lyon enflh)ded the gamins at the Wedge-House, 
Or accepted a furlough from McCulloch and Price, 

Joe Smith was welding broken links in his chain of salvation 
And Miller looking for heaven through holes in the ice. 

Before soulless syndicates gobbled up the public domain 
Or credit mohilier schemes of Tom Scott and Oakes Ames 

Swindled good natured Uncle Sam out of millions of dollars 
And buried Colfax and others 'neath mountains of shame. 

A man 's vows w^ere regarded binding as sworn affirmations 
And his '10 U' ' as sound as a bankable note : 

His merits and demerits were reckoned at their full value, 
His character never weighed in the scales with his coat. 



A GOSSIPIN9 RETROSPECT. 171 



Lawyers enii;iio;edui}>J<'adiiu/.s inst-ad of wild declamations, 
Their fees being modest, compared with those of to-day. 

Preachers labored for the sah^ation of men (and ''fried 
chicken' ' ) 
And we attended ' ' meeting j. to gossip, sing and pray. 

Campmeetmgs were far more plentiful than ''World's 
Expositions 
And people ' 'got religion' ' in the old-fashioned wa\ . 
A man conld • "wallop the life out'n a shemale b"ar and 
litter. 
Chop , split , tote out and put up two liundrd rails a day. ' ' 

The • old 'oman' ' wove, knit, churned sewed and cooked 
whilst her fair daughters' 
Wheels kept .step with ''My old Kentucky Home, far 
away. ' 
The boys worked in the forest or cornfield from dawning 
till twilight , 
Then • hunted possuuivS and coons'' till the crack of 
next day. 

Grretna Green was then ccmsidered a ci'eation of fano}^ 
And • 'Injun Nation'' had never gladdened a lover; 

Young people, marrying at home, had a grand rharirtiri . 
And forever aft r lived in • 'hone}^ and clover. ' ' 

Arctic exploring expeditions were very uncommon, ( 

But " going down the river' " furnished family lore. \ 

Opera, theater and circus troupes came very rareh^ | 

And ' 'grub" wasn't sold oa credit at the country store. 



172 A GOSSIPING RETROPECT. 

A ten-pennj nail and new copper cent made a boy happy. 

Because thej' jingled like ' the dollars of the daddies. 
Our blooming bisters esteemed calico dresses as highly 

As we do the superb toilets of modern ladies . 

Our exports were few, our imports triflin.j<. compared with 
to-day ; 
Our arteries of commerce were rivers and dirt roads ; 
Our merchantmen were the wagon, sled and rollicking 
flatboat. 
The lading being "•swapped' ' for groceries and dry goods. 

Our outgoing shipments were pumpkins, squashes, staves 
and hooppoles— 

Being usually summarized: • 'Lumber and Fruits' ' — 
Our incoming cargoes constituted life's chiefest comforts 

And consisted of salt, coffee, lead, powder and boots. 

Sounds of the chopping ax and whipsaw awakened the forest 
And buzzing wheels and thwacking looms were heard 
in the land. 

Labor meant trork and economy meant sarin(j your earnings. 
And labor and thrift and contentment went hand in hand. 

Patent laws didn't hamper manufacturing enterprise 
And trade was not fettered by tariff legislation. 

Laboring men's associations were— things of the future— 
And stnAmgr meant ' 'hitting' ' a northwestern plantation. 

Commercial travellers were scarce as celestial visitors, 
Lightning-rod philosophers came but once in a year. 

The ubiquitous book imp hadn't escaped from his swaddlings 
And the wheezing graphaphone never tortured the ear. 



A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT. 173 

Insurance men rarely wept over mercantile fire losses 
And caleopean concerts seldom were given ; 

''Pierce's Pleasant Pellets ' ' werent advertised in the 
newspapers, 
And loafers felt as lonesome as Pecksniffs in heaven. 

Riches meant plenty at home and a tnite for the needy , 
And integrity was prized more than rubies and gold ; 

Funerals didn't cost the price of a ship load of cotton . 
And multi-millionaires on your fingers could be told. 

Hapless Lovejoy was a printer by the side of "Big Muddy.'' 
Harry Clay was posing as ' 'Mill-Boy of the Slashes, ' ' 

Poe's mythical raven was croaking --Nevermore, never 
more I" 
And Voorhees scanning lasses through infantile lashes. 

Artemus Ward . the inimitable, was ' 'raising chestnuts. 

' 'Hiawatha' " inspiring William Longfellow's pen : 
Tom Hendricks was a frizzy- headed, barefooted Buckeyean 

And Hoozierdom's great occulist was a plowboy then. 

Ere Lincoln split rails, in Illinois, for two bits a hundred. 

Or Guiteau died on the gallows for his country s weal. 
Or Douglass exchanged slavery's galling fetters for freedom, 

Or Governor Wise sent Bj-own to -'thelandof the leal. ' ' 

Ere Texas achieved her independence, at- San Jacinto, 
Or the ' 'Lone Star" was added to our constellation 

Or death drafted President Harrison and Tyler '-Tylered' 
The Whigs, by signing the bill for her annexation. 

Ere Ampudia ramouxi^d at Reseca de la Palma 
Or Uncle Sam's eagles floated over Monterey, 

Or "Rough and Ready" whipped Santa Ana at Buena Vista. 
Or our people mourned for McKey, Yell, Hardin and Clay. 



174 A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT. 

Ere our army, under Scott, captured the port of Vera Cruz 
And drove the Mexicans from rock-ribbed Cero Gordo, 

Demolished Oherubusco and Molino del Rey, 
Scaled frowning Chepultepec and captured Mexico. 

Or Brigham Young dedicated the Temple of Deseret, 
Or bonanza kings dreamed of the wealth of Nevada, 

Or Freemont traded army beeves for County Mariposa 
Or the Pacific Slope became — ' ' Wertern El Dorado. 

Ere Phillips and G-arrison raised their ba tile-cry of freedom 
Or ' 'Missouri Compromise' ' was repealed by Congress, 

Or Helper promulgated his • 'Irrepressible conflict' ' 
And Jim Lane started Pandemonium in Kansas. 

Then Charleston's convention bursted the Democratic party 
And the Republicans got control of the nation. 

Dixie — affronted — appealed to the arbiter of nations. 
The war, which followed, ending in emancipation . 

Major Anderson sarren leredgrim Sumpter to Beauregard, 
Douglass threw up the sponge and ' 'On to Richmond ! ' ' 
begun. 

Donelson and Henry capitulated to the ' ' Yankees, ' ' 
And' Reb s 'routed McDowell at Bull Run Number One. 

Fair Zollikoffer was murdered by Frye. his body profaned 
By brutal soldiers, his garments divided by lot ; 

McClellan marched from Washington to Richmond and 
back again 
And Lee taught General Pope that his bluster was "rot. ' 



A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT. 175 



The ' 'Confeds "annihilated plucky Baker at Balls Elnff, 
And Elsworth captured a bullet instead of a ' -ra^.*' " 

Dixie lost one of her most brilliant commanders at Shiloh 
And ' 'Old Rosie's' ' army was beguiled by Capt. Bragg 



Confiscated cotton 'feathered the nests'' of Curtiss and 
Gorman 
And Dick Taylor grew fat upon Yankee bacon and beans , 
' 'Old Swampy monkeyed with'' Grant's Holly Springs 
commisariat 
And Farragut bested the Rebels at New Orleans. 



The Johnnies beat the army of the Potomnc at Fredricks- 
burg , 
And. stirred the fleas in the- 'Fed's' camp at Anteitam ; 
General Meade checkmated Lees • 'On to Philadelphia' ' 
And ''Yankee Cheese-Box'' worsted the Confederate 
' ' Ram . ' ' 

General Hooker' s army was beaten at Chancellorville, 
And Grant covered the wilderness With battle's (h^hn's; 

Sheridan desolated fruitful Shenandoah Valley 

And Sherman, like a besom, swept ' 'down to the sea, 



At last. when a million of our bravest and best had fallen. 

And as many others maimed and disabled for life. 
The South, o' erpowered by numbers and exhausted bj' 
fighting. 
Furled her banners, discharged armies and gave up the 
strife. 



176 A GOSSIPING RETROSPECT. 

When ' 'grim Visaged war ' ' disbanded his batallions and 
• navies— 
And scarred veterans returned to vocations of yore— 
Industr}^ and com merce spread their wings from ocean to 
to ocean , 
And Thrift and Unit}' reigned as never before. 

Our old mothers and sisters maj' have been "off ' ' in re- 
finement , 
Their customs and styles, perhaps, not exactly in tone 
With those of the present— our fathers and brothers un- 
polished — 
Yet those old-time styles lose nothing, compared with 
our own. 

Distinctions may seem hateful, comparisons seem odious, 

Yet, before dismissing my theme, permit me to say 
Of those people, fast fading away: If they were unpolished, 
Their' 'ways' ' were as commendable as ours are to-day, 




' '.'■V -'.''.•.:*'^>^'^;.. 




